Actually, I think the Brezhnev “cult” has to do with something very different. Everybody knew of his appreciation for drink and women. The corruption during his rein was not a secret either. (When Andropov was head of the KGB he had film and even distributed in video of his lifestyle to discredit Brezhnev – Andropov very much regretted few Soviets had a VCR!).
However, Brezhnev accomplished something few leaders in history can lay claim to: he exceeded the expectations of the population. I doubt Putin will ever come close to meeting the expectations of today’s Russia.
Don’t get me wrong, I am not a fan of Brezhnev, but then again I didn’t live here when he was General Party Secretary.
Yep. People refer to the "Brezhnev era," the "Gorbachev era" (boo!), the "Stalin era" etc. History of autocracy probably has something to do with it to.
People were very saddened when Brezhnev died. I know people who cried. They felt abandoned. "What will we do without the Guarantor of Peace?"
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