Leonid Brezhnev

Leonid Brezhnev was a Soviet leader who served as General Secretary of the Communist Party from 1964 to 1982. His tenure marked a period of political stability and economic stagnation known as "Stagnation." Brezhnev emphasized military strength and pursued a policy of détente, easing tensions with the West, particularly the United States, during the Cold War. However, his era also witnessed increased censorship and suppression of dissent. The Brezhnev Doctrine justified Soviet intervention in other communist countries. After his death, economic issues and public discontent contributed to the eventual decline of the Soviet Union.