USSR + Russian Federation Leaders

Lenin

Received law license in 1892 and joined a group of Marxist Activists known as Union for Struggle for the Emancipation of the Working Class

Lenin

Founder of the Russian Social Democratic Labor party

Lenin

Became chairmen of the Soviet Government after Bolshevik Revolution

Stalin

Born in Georgia and had religious education but joined a Marxist socialist group

Stalin

Served as secretary general under Lenin

Stalin

Great Purge, Industrialization, and Five-Year Plan; signed Non-aggression pact w/ Hitler

Khrushchev

Leader after Stalin; relaxed censorship and repression and integrated de-Stalinization policies

Brezhnev

Invested in huge military build-up; responsible for the invasion of Afghanistan and berlin wall; not good for Russia

Brezhnev

Pursued detente and dissident with the United States; created a doctrine

Gorbachev

Created perestroika and glasnost

Gorbachev

Pulled out of Afghanistan

Gorbachev

Renounced the Brezhnev doctrine; signed arms treaties w the US

Yeltsin

Complete alcoholic; would show up to government events drunk

Yeltsin

Suffered economic chaos - went fully to capitalism (picks Vladimir Putin as the next leader)

Putin

Current leader of Russia; former KGB member

Putin

Advocates for a strong, nationalist Russia and seeks to restore Soviet-era influence

Putin

Lack of basic human rights under his rule; known for election manipulation and key player in modern geopolitical conflicts (Ukraine and Syria)