Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
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of Russia's first parliament. Led Russia against Germany in World War I; abdi-
cated amid revolutionary activity in 1917; was executed along with his wife
and five children in 1918.
Vladimir Lenin
1917-24 Founder of Soviet state. After years abroad studying
Marxist theory and plotting revolution, returned to Russia to lead Bolsheviks.
Led “red” Communist forces during civil war; established Soviet secret police.
His embalmed body is on Red Square.
Josef Stalin
1924-53 Seminary-student-turned-dictator who forcibly collectiv-
ized Soviet land, purged Soviet leadership of purported enemies in “The Great
Terror,” and executed or repressed millions of Soviet citizens for real and
imagined crimes. Led the Soviet Union to victory in World War II at the cost
of 27 million lives.
Nikita Khrushchev
1955-64 Congenial leader who denounced many of
Stalin's policies and oversaw period of “thaw” in arts and political life. Nearly
came to nuclear conflict with U.S. in Cuban Missile Crisis. Deposed by conser-
vative Communist Party colleagues.
Leonid Brezhnev
1964-82 Long-serving leader who came to embody stagna-
tion of late Soviet period. Oversaw crackdown on “Prague Spring,” expulsion
of dissidents. Launched war in Afghanistan.
Yuri Andropov
1982-84 Influential former KGB chief who sought to stem
corruption and introduce minor reforms.
Konstantin Chernenko
1984-85 Conservative Brezhnev protégé who esca-
lated Cold War military spending.
Mikhail Gorbachev
1985-91 Last Soviet leader. Reformer who introduced
glasnost
and
perestroika
but later tried to rein in the independence movements
spawned by these policies. Briefly ousted by hard-liners in failed coup attempt;
3 months later the Soviet Union collapsed.
Boris Yeltsin
1991-99 First Russian president. Orchestrated end of USSR, freed
prices, and oversaw privatization of state companies. Launched war in Chech-
nya; sent tanks against recalcitrant lawmakers; opened Russia to foreign
investors.
Vladimir Putin
2000-08 Second Russian president. Former KGB agent who
assumed power when Yeltsin resigned. Oversaw economic boom, suppressed
free media, and squeezed out political rivals.
Dmitry Medvedev
2008-Chosen Russian president after being anointed by
Putin in an election with no serious opponents. Real power rests with Putin,
named prime minister after Medvedev's election.
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