Soviet Ethnic Relations and the Fall of Nikolai Podgorny

Abstract

In late May 1977, Nikolai Podgorny lost his position on the Soviet Politburo; several weeks later he was dismissed from his position as Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet. Podgorny was an exceptionally powerful figure in the Kremlin; his abrupt and unceremonious removal from the Politburo is widely recognized as a very significant political event. This is especially true given the fact that within several weeks after Podgorny's ouster, General Secretary Brezhnev assumed Podgorny's former position as Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet. An analysis of Podgorny's fall from power is significant for it reveals a good deal about leadership politics under Brezhnev, and about the role of specific issues in power maintenance and loss. This study presents evidence supporting the proposition that Soviet nationality relations were a significant issue in Podgorny's loss of political power culminating in his dismissal from the Politburo and subsequent removal from the Presidium Chairmanship.