Well to me its a split desicion between russia and turkey

Lets have a look

Similar Pro's:
~Great Cavalry
~Good Late game gunpowder
~Good starting position
~Late game infantry are pretty good
~Not catholic

Similar cons:
~Near mongols
~Early game infantry are generally fail
~Not catholic

Russia Pro's
~Cossack gunners!
~Mounted Cossacks!
~Tsar Guard!
~Good Early game cavalry (Boyar sons and Druzhina!)

Russia Cons:
~Often ends being the only orthodox faction in a sea of catholics and muslims
~Provinces are generally not that wealthy

Turkey Pro's
~Janissary heavy infantry! (PWNZORZ!!!)
~Janissary muskets (W00T!!!!)
~Janissary Archers (ZOMG!11!ONE STAKES)
~Great early game horse archers
~Monster Bombard
~Rich provinces

Turkeys Con's
~OHSHI ITS THE TIMURIDS
~Early game infantry? no chance
~Pope dosnt like you much... this may lead to crusades
~Egypt is next door and there quite strong in early game