In the Soviet Union, the private life of the country's leaders was strictly classified and protected as state secrets of the highest degree of protection. Only an analysis of the materials published recently allows us to lift the veil over the secret of their payrolls.

Having seized power in the country, Vladimir Lenin in December 1917 set himself a monthly salary of 500 rubles, which roughly corresponded to the wages of an unskilled worker in Moscow or St. Petersburg. Any other income, including fees, was strictly forbidden to high-ranking party members at the suggestion of Lenin.

The modest salary of the “leader of the world revolution” was quickly eaten up by inflation, but Lenin somehow did not think about where the money comes from for a completely comfortable life, treatment with the involvement of world luminaries and domestic servants, although he did not forget to strictly say to his subordinates every time: “Subtract these expenses from my salary!”

The general secretary of the Bolshevik Party, Joseph Stalin, at the beginning of the NEP was set a salary less than half of Lenin's salary (225 rubles), and only in 1935 was it raised to 500 rubles, but the next year a new increase to 1200 rubles followed. The average salary in the USSR at that time was 1,100 rubles, and although Stalin did not live on his own salary, he could very well live modestly on it. During the war years, the leader’s salary turned almost to zero as a result of inflation, but at the end of 1947, after the monetary reform, the “leader of all peoples” set himself a new salary of 10,000 rubles, which was 10 times higher than the then average wage in the USSR. At the same time, a system of "Stalin envelopes" was introduced - monthly tax-free payments to the top of the party and Soviet apparatus. Be that as it may, Stalin did not seriously consider his salary and of great importance didn't give it to her.

First among leaders Soviet Union The one who became seriously interested in his salary was Nikita Khrushchev, who received 800 rubles a month, which was 9 times the average salary in the country.

Sybarite Leonid Brezhnev was the first who violated the Leninist ban on additional, except for wages, income for the top of the party. In 1973, he awarded himself the International Lenin Prize (25,000 rubles), and starting in 1979, when Brezhnev's name adorned the galaxy of classics of Soviet literature, huge fees began to pour into the Brezhnev family budget. Brezhnev's personal account in the publishing house of the Central Committee of the CPSU "Politizdat" is replete with thousands of sums for huge circulations and multiple reprints of his masterpieces "Renaissance", "Small Land" and "Virgin Land". It is curious that the general secretary had a habit of often forgetting about his literary income when paying party dues to his favorite party.

Leonid Brezhnev was generally very generous at the expense of "nationwide" state property - both to himself, and to his children, and to those close to him. He appointed his son First Deputy Minister of Foreign Trade. In this post, he became famous for his constant trips for magnificent parties abroad, as well as huge senseless spending there. Brezhnev's daughter led a wild life in Moscow, spending money coming from nowhere on jewelry. Brezhnev's associates, in turn, were generously endowed with dachas, apartments and huge bonuses.

Yuri Andropov, being a member of the Brezhnev Politburo, received 1,200 rubles a month, but when he became General Secretary, he returned the salary of the General Secretary of the Khrushchev era - 800 rubles a month. At the same time, the purchasing power of the “Andropov ruble” was about half that of the “Khrushchev” ruble. Nevertheless, Andropov completely retained the system of "Brezhnev's fees" of the Secretary General and successfully used it. For example, with a basic salary of 800 rubles, his income in January 1984 amounted to 8,800 rubles.

Andropov's successor, Konstantin Chernenko, keeping the general secretary's salary at the level of 800 rubles, intensified his activity in extorting fees, publishing various ideological materials on his own behalf. According to his party card, his income ranged from 1200 to 1700 rubles. At the same time, Chernenko, a fighter for the moral purity of the communists, had a habit of constantly hiding large sums from his native party. So, the researchers could not find in the party card of General Secretary Chernenko in the column for 1984 4550 rubles of the fee received from the payroll of Politizdat.

Mikhail Gorbachev "reconciled" with a salary of 800 rubles until 1990, which was only four times the average salary in the country. Only by combining the posts of president and general secretary in 1990, Gorbachev began to receive 3,000 rubles, while the average salary in the USSR was 500 rubles.

The successor to the general secretaries, Boris Yeltsin, was almost to the end with the “Soviet salary”, not daring to radically reform the salaries of the state apparatus. Only by decree of 1997, the salary of the President of Russia was set at 10,000 rubles, and in August 1999 its size increased to 15,000 rubles, which was 9 times higher than the average wage in the country, that is, it was approximately at the level of the salaries of his predecessors in governing the country, who had the title of general secretary. True, the Yeltsin family had a lot of income from the “outside”.

Vladimir Putin for the first 10 months of his reign received "Yeltsin's rate". However, effective June 30, 2002, the President's annual salary was set at 630,000 rubles (approximately $25,000) plus secrecy and language bonuses. He also receives military pension for the rank of colonel.

From that moment on, the main salary rate of the leader of Russia for the first time since Lenin's time has ceased to be just a fiction, although against the background of wage rates for leaders of the leading countries of the world, Putin's rate looks rather modest. For example, the President of the United States receives 400 thousand dollars, almost the same amount has the Prime Minister of Japan. The salaries of other leaders are more modest: the British Prime Minister has $348,500, the German Chancellor has about $220,000, and the French President has $83,000.

It is interesting to see how the "regional general secretaries" - the current presidents of the CIS countries - look against this background. The former member of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the CPSU, and now the President of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev, essentially lives according to the “Stalinist norms” for the ruler of the country, that is, he and his family are completely and completely provided by the state, but he also set a relatively small salary for himself - 4 thousand dollars a day. month. Other regional general secretaries - the former first secretaries of the Central Committee of the Communist Parties of their republics - formally set themselves more modest salaries. Thus, Azerbaijani President Heydar Aliyev receives only $1,900 a month, while Turkmen President Sapurmurat Niyazov receives only $900. At the same time, Aliyev, having put his son Ilham Aliyev at the head of the state oil company, actually privatized all the country's income from oil - the main currency resource of Azerbaijan, and Niyazov generally turned Turkmenistan into a kind of medieval khanate, where everything belongs to the ruler. Turkmenbashi, and only he, can solve any issue. All foreign exchange funds are managed only personally by Turkmenbashi (Father of the Turkmens) Niyazov, and the sale of Turkmen gas and oil is managed by his son Murad Niyazov.

The situation is worse than others for the former First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Georgia and a member of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the CPSU, Eduard Shevardnadze. With a modest monthly salary of $ 750, he could not establish full control over the country's wealth because of the strong opposition to him in the country. In addition, the opposition keeps a close eye on all personal expenses of President Shevardnadze and his family.

The lifestyle and real opportunities of the current leaders of the former country of the Soviets are well characterized by the behavior of the wife of Russian President Lyudmila Putina during her husband's recent state visit to the UK. The British prime minister's wife, Sheri Blair, took Ludmila to a 2004 fashion show at Burberry, a well-known design firm among the wealthy. For more than two hours, Lyudmila Putina was shown the latest fashion, and in conclusion, Putin was asked if she would like to buy something. Blueberry prices are very high. For example, even a gas scarf of this company pulls on 200 pounds sterling.

The Russian president's eyes widened so much that she announced the purchase of ... the entire collection. Even super-millionaires did not dare to do this. By the way, because if you buy the entire collection, then people will not understand that you are wearing next year's fashion clothes! After all, no one else has anything comparable. Putin's behavior in this case was not so much the behavior of the wife of a major statesman of the early 21st century, but rather resembled the behavior of the main wife of an Arab sheikh in the middle of the 20th century, distraught from the amount of petrodollars that had fallen on her husband.

This episode with Mrs. Putina needs some explanation. Naturally, neither she nor the “art historians in civilian clothes” accompanying her during the display of the collection had as much money with them as the collection cost. This was not required, because in such cases, respected people need only their signature on the check and nothing else. No money or credit cards. Even if the very Mr. President of Russia, who is trying to present himself to the world as a civilized European, was outraged by this act, then, of course, he had to pay.

Other rulers of countries - the former Soviet republics - also know how to "live well." So, a couple of years ago, the six-day wedding of the son of the President of Kyrgyzstan, Akaev, and the daughter of the President of Kazakhstan, Nazarbayev, thundered all over Asia. The scale of the wedding was truly khan's. By the way, both newlyweds only a year ago graduated from the University in College Park (Maryland).

Against this background, the son of Azerbaijani President Heydar Aliyev, Ilham Aliyev, who set a kind of world record, looks quite worthy against this background: in just one evening he managed to lose as much as 4 (four!) Million dollars in the casino. By the way, this worthy representative of one of the “general secretary” clans is now registered as a candidate for the presidency of Azerbaijan. Residents of this one of the poorest countries in terms of living standards are invited to elect either an amateur in the new elections. beautiful life” Aliev’s son or dad Aliev himself, who has already “served” two presidential terms, has crossed the 80-year mark and is so sick that he is no longer able to move independently.

Who ruled after Stalin in the USSR? It was Georgy Malenkov. His political biography was a truly phenomenal combination of ups and downs. At one time, he was considered the successor to the leader of the peoples and was even the de facto leader of the Soviet state. He was one of the most experienced apparatchiks and was famous for his ability to calculate many moves ahead. In addition, those who were in power after Stalin had a unique memory. On the other hand, he was expelled from the party during the Khrushchev era. They say he has not been rehabilitated so far, unlike his associates. However, the one who ruled after Stalin was able to endure all this and remain faithful to his cause until death. Although, they say, in old age he overestimated a lot ...

Career start

Georgy Maksimilianovich Malenkov was born in 1901 in Orenburg. His father worked for railroad. Despite the fact that noble blood flowed in his veins, he was considered a rather petty employee. His ancestors were from Macedonia. The grandfather of the Soviet leader chose the army path, was a colonel, and his brother was a rear admiral. The mother of a party leader was the daughter of a blacksmith.

In 1919, after graduating from the classical gymnasium, George was drafted into the Red Army. On the next year he joined the Bolshevik Party, becoming a political worker of an entire squadron.

After the Civil War, he studied at the Bauman School, but, having dropped out of school, began working in the Organizing Bureau of the Central Committee. It was 1925.

Five years later, under the patronage of L. Kaganovich, he began to head the organizational department of the capital's city committee of the CPSU (b). Note that Stalin really liked this young official. He was intelligent and devoted to the general secretary...

Selection Malenkov

In the second half of the 1930s, there were purges of the opposition in the capital's party organization, which became the prelude to future political repressions. It was Malenkov who then led this "selection" of the party nomenklatura. Later, with the sanction of the functionary, almost all the old communist cadres were repressed. He himself came to the regions in order to intensify the fight against "enemies of the people." He used to be a witness to interrogations. True, the functionary, in fact, was only an executor of the direct instructions of the leader of the peoples.

Roads of war

When the Great Patriotic War broke out, Malenkov managed to show his organizational talent. He had to professionally and fairly quickly solve many economic and personnel issues. He has always supported developments in the tank and rocket industries. In addition, it was he who made it possible for Marshal Zhukov to stop the seemingly inevitable collapse of the Leningrad Front.

In 1942, this party leader ended up in Stalingrad and was engaged, among other things, in organizing the defense of the city. On his orders, the urban population began to evacuate.

In the same year, thanks to his efforts, the Astrakhan defensive region was strengthened. So, modern boats and other watercraft appeared in the Volga and Caspian flotilla.

Later, he took an active part in the preparation of the battle on Kursk Bulge, after which he focused on the restoration of the liberated territories, heading the appropriate committee.

post-war period

Malenkov Georgy Maximilianovich began to turn into the second figure in the country and the party.

When the war ended, he dealt with issues related to the dismantling of German industry. By and large, this work has been constantly criticized. The fact is that many of the influential departments tried to get this equipment. As a result, an appropriate commission was created, which made an unexpected decision. German industry was no longer dismantled, and enterprises that were based in the territories of East Germany began to produce goods for the Soviet Union as reparations.

Rise of a functionary

In mid-autumn 1952, the Soviet leader instructed Malenkov to make a report at the next congress of the Communist Party. Thus, the party functionary, in fact, was presented as Stalin's successor.

Apparently, the leader put forward him as a compromise figure. She suited both the party elite and the security forces.

A few months later, Stalin was gone. And Malenkov, in turn, became the head of the Soviet government. Of course, before him this post was held by the deceased general secretary.

Malenkov's reforms

Malenkov's reforms began literally immediately. Historians also call them "perestroika" and believe that this reform could greatly change the entire structure of the national economy.

The head of government in the period after Stalin's death declared to the people absolutely new life. He promised that the two systems - capitalism and socialism - would coexist peacefully. He was the first leader of the Soviet Union to warn against atomic weapons. In addition, he was determined to put an end to the politics of the cult of personality by moving to the collective leadership of the state. He recalled that the late leader criticized the members of the Central Committee for the cult planted around him. True, there was no significant reaction to this proposal of the new prime minister at all.

In addition, the one who ruled after Stalin and before Khrushchev decided to lift a number of bans - on crossing borders, foreign press, customs transit. Unfortunately, the new head tried to present this policy as a natural continuation of the previous course. That is why Soviet citizens, in fact, not only did not pay attention to "perestroika", but also did not remember it.

Career decline

By the way, it was Malenkov, as the head of government, who came up with the idea to halve the remuneration of party officials, that is, the so-called. "envelopes". By the way, before him, Stalin offered the same thing shortly before his death. Now, thanks to the relevant resolution, this initiative has been implemented, but it has caused even greater irritation on the part of the party nomenklatura, including N. Khrushchev. As a result, Malenkov was removed from his post. And all his "perestroika" was practically curtailed. At the same time, "ration" bonuses to officials were restored.

Nevertheless, the ex-head of government remained in the cabinet. He directed all Soviet power plants, which began to work much more successfully and more efficiently. Malenkov also promptly resolved issues related to the social arrangement of employees, workers and their families. Accordingly, all this increased his popularity. Even though she was already tall. But in the middle of the summer of 1957 he was "exiled" to the hydroelectric power station in Ust-Kamenogorsk, in Kazakhstan. When he arrived there, the whole city rose to meet him.

Three years later, the former minister headed the thermal power plant in Ekibastuz. And also on arrival, a lot of people appeared who carried his portraits ...

Many did not like his well-deserved fame. And the very next year, the one who was in power after Stalin was expelled from the party, sent to retire.

Last years

Once retired, Malenkov returned to Moscow. He retained some privileges. In any case, he bought groceries in special store for party officials. But, despite this, he periodically went to his dacha in Kratovo by train.

And in the 80s, the one who ruled after Stalin suddenly turned to Orthodox faith. This was, perhaps, his last "turn" of fate. Many saw him in the temple. In addition, he periodically listened to radio programs about Christianity. He also became a reader in churches. By the way, in these years he lost a lot of weight. Perhaps that is why no one touched him and did not recognize him.

He died at the very beginning of January 1988. He was buried at the Novokuntsevsky churchyard in the capital. Note that he was buried according to the Christian rite. In the Soviet media of those times there were no reports of his death. But there were obituaries in Western periodicals. And very extensive...

Authorities in the USSR from 1924 to 1991

Good afternoon dear friends!

In this post, we will talk about one of the most difficult topics in the history of Russia - authorities in the USSR from 1924 to 1991. This topic causes not only difficulties for applicants, but sometimes a stupor, because if the structure of the authorities of tsarist Russia is at least somehow understandable, then some kind of confusion comes with the USSR.

It is understandable soviet history in itself is many times more difficult for applicants than the entire previous history of Russia put together. However, with this article authorities in the USSR You will be able to deal with this topic once and for all!

Let's start with the basics. There are three branches of government: legislative, executive and judicial. The legislature makes laws that govern life in the state. The executive branch executes these very laws. Judicial branch - judges people and monitors the legal system as a whole. See my article for more details.

So, we will now analyze the authorities that were in the USSR - the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, which was formed, as you remember, in 1922. But first !

Authorities in the USSR according to the Constitution of 1924.

So, the first Constitution of the USSR was adopted in 1924. According to her, these were the authorities in the USSR:

All legislative power belonged to the Congress of Soviets of the USSR, it was this body of power that adopted all the laws binding on all the union republics, of which there were originally 4 - the Ukrainian SSR, the ZSSR, the BSSR and the RSFSR. However, the Congress met only once a year! So between congresses performed its functions Central Executive Committee (CEC). He also announced the convocation of the Congress of Soviets of the USSR.

However, the sessions of the Central Executive Committee were also interrupted (there were only 3 sessions a year!) - you need to rest! Therefore, between sessions of the CEC, the Presidium of the CEC acted. According to the Constitution of 1924, the Presidium of the Central Executive Committee is the highest legislative, executive and administrative body of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. However, he was responsible to the CEC for his actions. The Presidium of the Central Executive Committee sent all bills submitted for its consideration to the two chambers of the Central Executive Committee: the Union Council and the Council of Nationalities.

However, not all executive power belonged exclusively to the Presidium of the Central Executive Committee! The Central Executive Committee is approved by the Council of People's Commissars. In a different way, he appears in the exam tests as the Council of People's Commissars! SNK consisted of people's commissariats. They were led by people's commissars, of whom there were initially ten:

People's Commissar for Foreign Affairs; People's Commissar for Military and Naval Affairs; People's Commissar for Foreign Trade; People's Commissar of Communications; People's Commissar of Posts and Telegraphs; People's Commissar of the Workers' and Peasants' Inspectorate; Chairman of the Supreme Council of the National Economy; people's commissar of labor; People's Commissar of Food; People's Commissar of Finance.

Who specifically held all these positions - at the end of the article! In fact, the Council of People's Commissars is the Government of the USSR, which was also supposed to implement the laws adopted by the Central Executive Committee and the Congress of Soviets of the USSR. Under the Council of People's Commissars, the OGPU was formed - the United State Political Administration, which replaced the Cheka - the All-Russian Extraordinary Commission ("Chekists").

Judicial power was exercised by the Supreme Court of the USSR, which was also formed by the Congress of Soviets of the USSR.

As you can see, nothing complicated. However, it is worth adding that each of these authorities had its own Chairman, who supervised (headed) it, he had his own deputies. Moreover, the Union Council and the Council of Nationalities had their own Presidiums, which functioned between their sessions. Of course, there was also the Chairman of the Presidium of the Union Council, the Chairman of the Presidium of the Council of Nationalities!

Authorities in the USSR according to the Constitution of 1936.

As can be seen from the diagram, the structure of government in the USSR has become much simpler. However, there is one note: until 1946, the Council of People's Commissars (Sovnarkom) continued to exist together with the people's commissariats. In addition, the NKVD was formed - the People's Commissariat of Internal Affairs, which included the OGPU and the GUGB - the state department of state security.

It is clear that the functions of the authorities were the same. The structure simply changed: the Central Executive Committee no longer existed, and the Council of the Union and the Council of Nationalities became part of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR. The Supreme Soviet of the USSR is the renamed Congress of Soviets of the USSR, it was now convened twice a year. Between congresses of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, its functions were performed by the Presidium.

The Supreme Soviet of the USSR approved the Council of Ministers of the USSR (Until 1946 it was the Council of People's Commissars) - the government of the USSR, and the Supreme Court of the USSR.

And you may have a logical question: "And who was the head of state of the USSR?". Formally, the USSR was governed collectively - by the Supreme Soviet of the USSR and its Presidium. In fact, during this period, the one who held the post of Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars and was the head of the CPSU (b) party and was the head of the USSR. By the way, there were only three such people: V.I. Lenin, I.V. Stalin and N.S. Khrushchev. At all other times, the post of head of the party and head of government (Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the USSR) were separated. You can find more detailed information about the Chairmen of the Council of People's Commissars (and since 1946 - the Council of Ministers) at the end of this article 🙂

Authorities in the USSR since 1957.

In 1957, the 1936 Constitution was in effect. However, Nikita Sergeevich Khrushchev carried out a public administration reform, during which the sectoral Ministries were liquidated and replaced by territorial Economic Councils in order to decentralize the management of industry:

By the way, you can see more detailed information about Khrushchev's activities.

Authorities in the USSR from 1988 to 1991.

I think there is nothing difficult in order to understand this scheme. In connection with the reform of public administration under M.S., Gorbachev, the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR was liquidated, and instead it was created elected by the people Council of People's Deputies !

This is how the structure of government in the USSR changed from 1922 to 1991. I hope you understand that the USSR was a federal state and all the bodies of power considered were duplicated at the republican level. If so, ask questions in the comments! Not to be missed new materials, !

People who bought my video course "Russian history. Preparation for the exam for 100 points " , April 28, 2014 I will send 3 additional video lessons on this topic, plus a table of all positions in the USSR and the heroes of the Great Patriotic War, front commanders and other usefulness.

Well, as promised - table of all heads of chairmen of the Council of People's Commissars:

Sincerely, Andrey (Dreammanhist) Puchkov

Image caption royal family concealed the illness of the heir to the throne

Disputes about the state of health of President Vladimir Putin make us recall the Russian tradition: the first person was regarded as an earthly deity, which was not supposed to be remembered irreverently and in vain.

With practically unlimited power for life, the rulers of Russia were sick and dying like mere mortals. They say that in the 1950s, one of the liberal-minded young "stadium poets" once said: "They have no control over heart attacks!"

Discussion of the personal lives of leaders, including their physical condition, was prohibited. Russia is not America, where data on analyzes of presidents and presidential candidates and their blood pressure figures are published.

Tsarevich Alexei Nikolaevich, as you know, suffered from congenital hemophilia - hereditary disease, in which the blood does not clot normally, and any injury can lead to death from internal hemorrhage.

The only person capable of improving his condition in some way still incomprehensible to science was Grigory Rasputin, who was, in a modern way, a strong psychic.

Nicholas II and his wife categorically did not want to make public the fact that their only son was actually disabled. Even the ministers knew only in general terms that the Tsarevich had health problems. Simple people, seeing the heir during rare public appearances in the arms of a hefty sailor, they considered him a victim of an assassination attempt by terrorists.

Whether Aleksey Nikolaevich could later lead the country, or not, is unknown. His life was cut short by a KGB bullet at the age of 14.

Vladimir Lenin

The founder of the Soviet state died unusually early, at the age of 54, from progressive atherosclerosis. An autopsy showed an incompatible with life damage to the vessels of the brain. It was rumored that the development of the disease was triggered by untreated syphilis, but there is no evidence of this.

The first stroke, resulting in partial paralysis and loss of speech, happened to Lenin on May 26, 1922. After that, he spent more than a year and a half at his dacha in Gorki in a helpless state, interrupted by short remissions.

Lenin is the only Soviet leader whose physical condition was never made a secret. Medical bulletins were published regularly. At the same time, until the last days, the comrades-in-arms assured that the leader would recover. Joseph Stalin, who visited Lenin in Gorki more often than other members of the leadership, posted optimistic reports in Pravda about how he and Ilyich cheerfully joked about doctors-reinsurers.

Joseph Stalin

"Leader of the Nations" last years suffered from severe damage to the cardiovascular system, probably aggravated by an unhealthy lifestyle: he worked hard, while turning night into day, ate fatty and spicy foods, smoked and drank, and did not like to be examined and treated.

According to some reports, the "doctors' case" began with the fact that the professor-cardiologist Kogan advised a high-ranking patient to rest more. The suspicious dictator saw in this someone's attempt to remove him from affairs.

Having started the "Doctors' Plot", Stalin was left without any qualified medical assistance. Even the closest people could not talk to him on this topic, and he intimidated the service staff so much that after a stroke that happened on March 1, 1953 in the Blizhnyaya dacha, he lay on the floor for several hours, since he had previously forbidden the guards to disturb him without being called.

Even after Stalin turned 70, public discussion of his health and predictions of what would become of the country after his departure were absolutely impossible in the USSR. The idea that we would someday be left "without him" was considered sacrilegious.

For the first time, the people were informed about Stalin's illness the day before his death, when he had long been unconscious.

Leonid Brezhnev

Leonid Brezhnev in recent years, as the people joked, "ruled without regaining consciousness." The very possibility of such jokes confirmed that after Stalin the country had changed a lot.

The 75-year-old secretary general had enough old age diseases. Mentioned, in particular, of sluggish leukemia. However, it is difficult to say from what, in fact, he died.

Doctors talked about a general weakening of the body caused by the abuse of sedatives and sleeping pills and caused blackouts, loss of coordination and speech disorder.

In 1979, Brezhnev lost consciousness during a Politburo meeting.

"You know, Mikhail," Yuri Andropov said to Mikhail Gorbachev, who had just been transferred to Moscow and was not accustomed to such scenes, "we must do everything to support Leonid Ilyich in this position. It's a question of stability."

Brezhnev was politically killed by television. In the old days, his condition could have been hidden, but in the 1970s it was impossible to avoid regular appearances on the screen, including live broadcasts.

The apparent inadequacy of the leader, combined with a complete lack of official information, caused an extremely negative reaction from society. Instead of pity for the sick person, the people responded with jokes and anecdotes.

Yuri Andropov

Yuri Andropov most of his life suffered from severe kidney damage, from which, in the end, he died.

The disease caused an increase in blood pressure. In the mid-1960s, Andropov was intensively treated for hypertension, this did not give results, there was a question about his retirement due to disability.

The Kremlin doctor Yevgeny Chazov made a dizzying career thanks to the fact that he gave the head of the KGB the correct diagnosis and gave him about 15 years of active life.

In June 1982, at a plenary meeting of the Central Committee, when the speaker called from the rostrum to "give a party assessment" to the spread of rumors, Andropov unexpectedly intervened and said in a harsh tone that he was "warning for the last time" those who talk too much in conversations with foreigners. According to the researchers, he meant, first of all, the leakage of information about his health.

In September, Andropov went on vacation to the Crimea, where he caught a cold and never got out of bed. In the Kremlin hospital, he regularly underwent hemodialysis, a blood purification procedure using equipment that replaces the normal functioning of the kidneys.

Unlike Brezhnev, who once fell asleep and did not wake up, Andropov died long and painfully.

Konstantin Chernenko

After Andropov's death, the need to give the country a young dynamic leader was obvious to everyone. But the old members of the Politburo nominated 72-year-old Konstantin Chernenko, who was formally the No. 2 man, as general secretaries.

As the former Minister of Health of the USSR Boris Petrovsky later recalled, they all thought exclusively about how to die in their posts, they had no time for the country, and even more so, not for reforms.

Chernenko had long been ill with emphysema, heading the state, almost did not work, rarely appeared in public, spoke, gasping and swallowing words.

In August 1983, he suffered severe poisoning, while on vacation in the Crimea, a fish caught and smoked with his own hand by his neighbor in the country, the Minister of Internal Affairs of the USSR, Vitaly Fedorchuk. Many were treated to a gift, but nothing bad happened to anyone else.

Konstantin Chernenko died on March 10, 1985. Three days earlier, elections to the Supreme Soviet were held in the USSR. The television showed the general secretary, who unsteadily walked to the ballot box, dropped the ballot into it, waved his hand listlessly and said indistinctly: "Good."

Boris Yeltsin

Boris Yeltsin suffered from severe heart disease and reportedly suffered five heart attacks.

The first president of Russia has always been proud of the fact that nothing takes him, went in for sports, bathed in ice water and in many respects built his image on this, and he used to endure ailments on his feet.

Yeltsin's health deteriorated sharply in the summer of 1995, but elections were ahead, and he refused extensive treatment, although doctors warned of "irreparable harm to health." According to journalist Alexander Khinshtein, he said: "After the elections, at least cut it, but now leave me alone."

On June 26, 1996, a week before the second round of elections, Yeltsin suffered a heart attack in Kaliningrad, which was hidden with great difficulty.

On August 15, immediately after taking office, the president went to the clinic, where he underwent coronary artery bypass grafting. This time, he conscientiously followed all the instructions of the doctors.

In conditions of freedom of speech, it was difficult to hide the truth about the state of health of the head of state, but the environment tried as best it could. It was admitted, in extreme cases, that he had ischemia and temporary colds. Press secretary Sergei Yastrzhembsky said that the president rarely appears in public, because he is extremely busy working with documents, but he has an iron handshake.

Separately, mention should be made of the issue of Boris Yeltsin's relationship with alcohol. Political opponents constantly exaggerated this topic. One of the main slogans of the communists during the 1996 campaign sounded: "We will choose Zyuganov instead of Elya drunk!"

Meanwhile, Yeltsin appeared in public "under the fly" for the only time - during the famous orchestra conducting in Berlin.

Former head of the presidential guard, Alexander Korzhakov, who had no reason to shield the former chief, wrote in his memoirs that in September 1994, in Shannon, Yeltsin did not leave the plane to meet with the Irish prime minister, not because of intoxication, but because of a heart attack. After a quick consultation, the advisers decided that let people believe the "alcoholic" version rather than admit that the leader was seriously ill.

The resignation, the regime and the rest had a beneficial effect on the health of Boris Yeltsin. He lived in retirement for almost eight years, although in 1999, according to doctors, he was in serious condition.

Should I hide the truth?

According to experts, illness is certainly not a plus for a statesman, but in the era of the Internet it is pointless to hide the truth, and with skillful PR, one can even extract political dividends from it.

As an example, analysts point to Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, who made good publicity out of his fight against cancer. Supporters got a reason to be proud that their idol does not burn in the fire and even in the face of illness thinks about the country, and rallied around him even stronger.

General Secretaries of the USSR chronological order

General secretaries of the USSR in chronological order. Today they are already just a part of history, and once their faces were familiar to every single inhabitant of a vast country. Political system in the Soviet Union was such that the citizens did not choose their leaders. The decision to appoint the next general secretary was made by the ruling elite. But, nevertheless, the people respected the state leaders and, for the most part, perceived this state of affairs as a given.

Joseph Vissarionovich Dzhugashvili (Stalin)

Iosif Vissarionovich Dzhugashvili, better known as Stalin, was born on December 18, 1879 in the Georgian city of Gori. He became the first general secretary of the CPSU. He received this position in 1922, when Lenin was still alive, and until the death of the latter he played a secondary role in government.

When Vladimir Ilyich died, a serious struggle began for the highest post. Many of Stalin's competitors had a much better chance of taking him, but thanks to tough, uncompromising actions, Iosif Vissarionovich managed to emerge victorious from the game. Most of the other applicants were physically destroyed, some left the country.

In just a few years of rule, Stalin took the whole country under his "hedgehogs". By the beginning of the 1930s, he finally established himself as the sole leader of the people. The policy of the dictator went down in history:

mass repressions;

· total dispossession;

collectivization.

For this, Stalin was branded by his own followers during the “thaw”. But there is something for which Joseph Vissarionovich, according to historians, is worthy of praise. This is, first of all, the rapid transformation of a ruined country into an industrial and military giant, as well as a victory over fascism. It is quite possible that if the "cult of personality" was not so condemned by all, these achievements would have been unrealistic. Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin died on March 5, 1953.

Nikita Sergeevich Khrushchev

Nikita Sergeevich Khrushchev was born on April 15, 1894 in the Kursk province (the village of Kalinovka) into a simple working-class family. Participated in civil war where he took the side of the Bolsheviks. In the CPSU since 1918. In the late 1930s he was appointed secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Ukraine.

Khrushchev took over the Soviet state shortly after Stalin's death. At first, he had to compete with Georgy Malenkov, who also claimed the highest post and at that time was actually the leader of the country, chairing the Council of Ministers. But in the end, the coveted chair still remained with Nikita Sergeevich.

When Khrushchev was General Secretary, the Soviet country:

launched the first man into space and developed this sphere in every possible way;

· Actively built up five-story buildings, today called "Khrushchev";

planted the lion's share of the fields with corn, for which Nikita Sergeevich was even nicknamed the "maize man".

This ruler went down in history primarily with his legendary speech at the 20th Party Congress in 1956, where he branded Stalin and his bloody policies. From that moment, the so-called “thaw” began in the Soviet Union, when the grip of the state was loosened, cultural figures received some freedom, etc. All this lasted until the removal of Khrushchev from his post on October 14, 1964.

Leonid Ilyich Brezhnev

Leonid Ilyich Brezhnev was born in the Dnepropetrovsk region (village Kamenskoye) on December 19, 1906. His father was a metallurgist. In the CPSU since 1931. He occupied the main post of the country as a result of a conspiracy. It was Leonid Ilyich who led the group of members of the Central Committee that ousted Khrushchev.

The Brezhnev era in the history of the Soviet state is characterized as stagnation. The latter appeared as follows:

· the development of the country has stopped in almost all areas, except for the military-industrial;

The USSR began to seriously lag behind Western countries;

Citizens again felt the grip of the state, repressions and persecution of dissidents began.

Leonid Ilyich tried to improve relations with the United States, which had aggravated back in the time of Khrushchev, but he did not succeed very well. The arms race continued, and after the introduction Soviet troops to Afghanistan, it was impossible to even think about any kind of reconciliation. Brezhnev held a high post until his death, which occurred on November 10, 1982.

Yuri Vladimirovich Andropov

Yuri Vladimirovich Andropov was born in the station town of Nagutskoye (Stavropol Territory) on June 15, 1914. His father was a railroad worker. In the CPSU since 1939. He was active, which contributed to his rapid rise up the career ladder.

At the time of Brezhnev's death, Andropov headed the State Security Committee. He was elected by his associates to the highest post. The board of this general secretary covers a period of less than two years. During this time, Yuri Vladimirovich managed to fight a little with corruption in power. But he did nothing drastic. On February 9, 1984, Andropov died. The reason for this was a serious illness.

Konstantin Ustinovich Chernenko

Konstantin Ustinovich Chernenko was born in 1911 on September 24 in the Yenisei province (the village of Bolshaya Tes). His parents were peasants. In the CPSU since 1931. Since 1966 - Deputy of the Supreme Council. Appointed General Secretary of the CPSU on February 13, 1984.

Chernenko became the successor of Andropov's policy of identifying corrupt officials. He was in power for less than a year. The cause of his death on March 10, 1985 was also a serious illness.

Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev

Mikhail Sergeevich Gorbachev was born on March 2, 1931 in the North Caucasus (the village of Privolnoye). His parents were peasants. In the CPSU since 1952. Appeared to be active public figure. Moved quickly along the party line.

He was appointed Secretary General on March 11, 1985. He went down in history with the policy of "perestroika", which provided for the introduction of glasnost, the development of democracy, the provision of certain economic freedoms and other liberties to the population. Gorbachev's reforms led to mass unemployment, the liquidation of state-owned enterprises, and a total shortage of goods. This causes an ambiguous attitude towards the ruler from the side of citizens. the former USSR, which just during the reign of Mikhail Sergeevich broke up.

But in the West, Gorbachev is one of the most respected Russian politicians. He was even awarded Nobel prize the world. Gorbachev was Secretary General until August 23, 1991, and the USSR headed until December 25 of the same year.

All deceased general secretaries of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics are buried near the Kremlin wall. Their list was closed by Chernenko. Mikhail Sergeevich Gorbachev is still alive. In 2017, he turned 86 years old.

Photos of the General Secretaries of the USSR in chronological order

Stalin

Khrushchev

Brezhnev

Andropov

Chernenko