Famous Russian Leaders

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 1 
Mikhail Gorbachev
(Former General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union)
Mikhail Gorbachev
118
Birthdate: March 2, 1931
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Privol'noe, Russia
Died: August 30, 2022

Born into a poor peasant family, Mikhail Gorbachev went on to become one of the most influential figures of the Soviet Union. He served in various positions, most notably as the General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. He is regarded as one of the most prominent personalities of the 20th century.

 2 
Nicholas II
(Emperor of Russia (1894 - 1917))
Nicholas II
29
Birthdate: May 18, 1868
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Saint Petersburg, Russia
Died: July 17, 1918

Nicholas II reigned as the last Emperor of All Russia from 1894 until his abdication in 1917. His reign oversaw a series of reforms in Russia. These reforms included the introduction of literacy programs, civil liberties, and methods to modernize the empire's infrastructure. However, these reforms were eventually undermined by Nicholas' love for autocratic rule.

 3 
Vladimir Lenin
(Russian Revolutionary & Politician Who Served as the First Head of Government of Soviet Russia)
Vladimir Lenin
79
Birthdate: April 22, 1870
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Ulyanovsk, Russia
Died: January 21, 1924

Vladimir Lenin played a key role in the history of Russian politics by developing a political ideology called Leninism. During and after his lifetime, Lenin had a massive influence over international communist movement. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential and significant personalities of the 20th century.

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 4 
Georgy Zhukov
(Military Commander)
Georgy Zhukov
26
Birthdate: December 1, 1896
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Zhukov, Kaluga Oblast
Died: June 18, 1974

Soviet general and Marshal of the Soviet Union, Georgy Zhukov, is remembered for overseeing some of the Red Army's most decisive victories during the Second World War. As a young man, he served in the First World War and the Russian Civil War. The recipient of four Hero of the Soviet Union awards, he was made the defence minister.

 5 
Roman Abramovich
(Russian Billionaire Businessman and Former Owner of English Premier League Club 'Chelsea' )
Roman Abramovich
22
Birthdate: October 24, 1966
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Saratov, Russia

Roman Abramovich is an Israeli-Russian businessman and politician. Over the years, he has played an influential role as the primary owner of Millhouse LLC and as the owner of the popular Premier League football club Chelsea F.C. Roman Abramovich is one of the richest persons in the world and has donated over US$2.5 billion to various charitable causes between 1999 and 2013.

 6 
Lyudmila Putina
(Ex-Wife of Russian President Vladimir Putin)
Lyudmila Putina
11
Birthdate: January 6, 1958
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Kaliningrad, Russia
Lyudmila Putina was married to Russian president and former prime minister Vladimir Putin from 1983 to 2013. Their divorce was publicly announced on national TV, during the intermission of a ballet performance. She has been associated with programs developing the Russian language and was previously a flight attendant for Aeroflot.
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 7 
Mikhail Kalashnikov
(Inventor of 'AK-47' Assault Rifle, PK Machine Gun and 'RPK Light Machine Gun')
Mikhail Kalashnikov
5
Birthdate: November 10, 1919
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Kur'ya, Russia
Died: December 23, 2013
Russian military leader Mikhail Kalashnikov is remembered for inventing the AK-47 assault rifle, along with other weapons such as the AKM, the AK-74, the PK machine gun, and the RPK light machine gun. He was named the Hero of the Russian Federation and received the Order of Military Merit.
 8 
Valentina Tereshkova
(The First and Youngest Woman in Space)
Valentina Tereshkova
9
Birthdate: March 6, 1937
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Bol'shoe Maslennikovo, Russia
Former cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova is currently part of the Russian State Duma. In 1963, she became the first woman to fly into space when she went on a solo mission aboard the Vostok 6. She has won many honors, such as the Hero of the Soviet Union.
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 9 
Dmitry Medvedev
(Prime Minister of Russia from 2012 to 2020 and President of Russia from 2008 to 2012)
Dmitry Medvedev
10
Birthdate: September 14, 1965
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Saint Petersburg, Russia

Dmitry Medvedev, the Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council, has also been the prime minister and president of Russia. Born to teacher parents, he was an intelligent child and began studying his father’s encyclopedia in third grade. He is known for his support of the nuclear disarmament treaty.

 10 
Vladimir Putin
(President of Russia (2000 - 2008, Incumbent Since 2012))
Vladimir Putin
187
Birthdate: October 7, 1952
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Saint Petersburg, Russia

The current President of Russia, Vladimir Putin is a popular politician, with the highest approval rating of any leader in the world as of July 2020. As a high-level politician who has the support of his citizens, he is a powerful figure in world politics. He has been accused by human rights organizations of persecuting political critics and activists.

 11 
Sergey Lavrov
(Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia)
Sergey Lavrov
5
Birthdate: March 21, 1950
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Moscow, Russia

Sergey Lavrov is a Russian diplomat and politician. Since 2004, he has been serving as the foreign minister of Russia. An alumnus of the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO), he began his diplomatic career in 1972. Considered a brilliant diplomat, he was later appointed to the post of minister of foreign affairs. He is multi-lingual. 

 12 
Yuri Andropov
(Sixth Paramount Leader and the Fourth General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union)
Yuri Andropov
10
Birthdate: June 15, 1914
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Stavropol
Died: February 9, 1984

Yuri Andropov served as the general secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union from 1982 until his death in 1984. As the leader of the Soviet Union, Yuri Andropov worked towards improving the nation's economy and dismissed 18 ministers in an attempt to minimize corruption. His work and life have inspired several television documentaries.

 13 
Georgy Malenkov
(Soviet Politician Who Briefly Succeeded Joseph Stalin as the Leader of the Soviet Union)
Georgy Malenkov
5
Birthdate: December 6, 1901
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Orenburg, Russia
Died: January 14, 1988

Georgy Malenkov was a Soviet politician who succeeded Joseph Stalin as the leader of the Soviet Union. He also played a major role during World War II as he was given sole responsibility of Soviet Union's missile program during the war. Almost inseparable from any account of Stalin's biographies, Malenkov was played by Jeffrey Tambor in The Death of Stalin.

 14 
Alexander Kerensky
(Minister-President of the Russian Republic (September 1917 - November 1917))
Alexander Kerensky
7
Birthdate: May 4, 1881
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Ulyanovsk, Russia
Died: June 11, 1970

Alexander Kerensky was a Russian revolutionary and lawyer who played a major role in the Russian Revolution of 1917. Alexander Kerensky is often portrayed in films and TV series. In the 1971 epic historical drama film Nicholas and Alexandra, he was played by John McEnery. In the 2019 series The Last Czars, he was portrayed by Kestutis Cicenas.

 15 
Vasili Arkhipov
(Soviet Naval Officer)
Vasili Arkhipov
7
Birthdate: January 30, 1926
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Zvorkovo, Russia
Died: August 19, 1998

Vasili Arkhipov was a Soviet Navy officer who played a crucial role in the Cuban Missile Crisis. He prevented a Soviet nuclear strike, which could’ve easily caused an all-out nuclear war. He refused to authorize the use of nuclear torpedoes, for which he was posthumously honored with the Future of Life Award by the Future of Life Institute in 2017.

 16 
Konstantin Rokossovsky
(Soviet and Polish Military Officer)
Konstantin Rokossovsky
10
Birthdate: December 1, 1896
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Warsaw, Poland
Died: August 3, 1968

Konstantin Rokossovsky was a Soviet and Polish officer. One of the most important Red Army commanders during the Second World War, Rokossovsky also served as Poland's Defence Minister from 1949 to 1956. He also served as the Marshal of Poland and as the Marshal of the Soviet Union.

 17 
Grigory Potemkin
(Russian Statesman, Army Officer and Lover of Empress Catherine the Great)
Grigory Potemkin
5
Birthdate: October 11, 1739
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Chizhevo, Russia
Died: October 16, 1791

Grigory Potemkin was a Russian statesman, military leader, and nobleman. A favorite of Catherine the Great, Grigory Potemkin was appointed governor-general of Russia's southern provinces in 1775. An influential personality, Potemkin supervised the construction of several important edifices, such as the Tauride Palace. He is also credited with founding the towns of Ekaterinoslav, Sevastopol, Kherson, and Nikolayev.

 18 
Peter Kropotkin
(Anarchist, Socialist & Historian)
Peter Kropotkin
6
Birthdate: December 9, 1842
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Moscow, Russia
Died: February 8, 1921

Russian philosopher Peter Kropotkin was a passionate advocate of anarcho-communism. He was also an activist, revolutionary, economist, and sociologist. He was arrested and imprisoned for his activism in 1874. However, he managed to escape and lived in exile for over 40 years in different countries across Europe. He returned to Russia after the Russian Revolution in 1917. 

 19 
Boris Yeltsin
(Former President of Russia)
Boris Yeltsin
22
Birthdate: February 1, 1931
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Butka
Died: April 23, 2007
Boris Yeltsin served as the first president of Russia, from 1990 to 1999. He contributed to the dissolution of the Soviet Union. His regime was marked by capitalism, monopoly, inflation, and corruption. He introduced a modified constitution that increased the presidential powers. He later abruptly announced his resignation on TV.
 20 
Mikhail Prokhorov
(Business Tycoon)
Mikhail Prokhorov
5
Birthdate: May 3, 1965
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Moscow, USSR

Mikhail Prokhorov is a Russian billionaire, former owner of the American professional basketball team Brooklyn Nets, and politician. One of Russia's most prominent industrialists, Prokhorov is credited with helping Norilsk Nickel become the largest producer of palladium and nickel in the world. 

 21 
Grand Duke Michael Alexandrovich of Russia
(Russian Noble and Youngest Son of Emperor Alexander III of Russia)
Grand Duke Michael Alexandrovich of Russia
5
Birthdate: December 4, 1878
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Tsentralny District, Saint Petersburg, Russia
Died: June 13, 1918

Son of Alexander III, the emperor of Russia, Grand Duke Michael Alexandrovich refused to accept the throne unless Russians were allowed to decide if they wanted the monarchy or a republic. Both Michael and his British secretary, Nicholas Johnson, were arrested and shot to death during the Russian Revolution.

 22 
Boris Nemtsov
(1st Governor of Nizhny Novgorod Oblast (1991 - 1997), First Deputy Prime Minister of Russia (1997 - 1998))
Boris Nemtsov
5
Birthdate: October 9, 1959
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Sochi, Russia
Died: February 27, 2015

Boris Nemtsov was a Russian liberal politician and physicist. He served as the Deputy Prime Minister of Russia in 1998. A fierce critic of Vladimir Putin, Nemtsov claimed that Putin's government was becoming increasingly authoritarian. Nemtsov was murdered in 2015 in Moscow. Interestingly, Boris Nemtsov expressed fear that Vladimir Putin would hire men to kill him weeks before his assassination.

 23 
Nikolai Bulganin
(Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Soviet Union from 1955 to 1958)
Nikolai Bulganin
3
Birthdate: June 11, 1895
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Nizhny Novgorod, Russia
Died: February 24, 1975
Soviet premier Nikolai Bulganin had been a high-ranking Red Army official and was known for his close association with Nikita Khrushchev. However, he was later stripped of his Central Committee membership and marshal’s rank after it became clear he had been part of a group that attempted to oust Khrushchev.
 24 
Mikhail Bakunin
(Philosopher)
Mikhail Bakunin
5
Birthdate: May 30, 1814
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Russia
Died: July 1, 1876

Mikhail Bakunin was a Russian socialist and anarchist. He is credited with founding an anarchist school of thought called collectivist anarchism. Regarded as one of the most influential personalities of anarchism, Mikhail Bakunin has had a major influence on thinkers like Peter Kropotkin, Herbert Marcuse, Errico Malatesta, Neil Postman, E. P. Thompson, and A. S. Neill.    

 25 
Nadezhda Konstantinovna Krupskaya
(Deputy Minister of Education in the Government of the Soviet Union 1929 – 1938)
Nadezhda Konstantinovna Krupskaya
4
Birthdate: February 26, 1869
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Saint Petersburg, Russia
Died: February 27, 1939
 26 
Leon Trotsky
(Russian Marxist Revolutionary Who Developed a Variant of Marxism Which Has Become Known as 'Trotskyism')
Leon Trotsky
39
Birthdate: November 7, 1879
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Bereslavka, Ukraine
Died: August 21, 1940

A Russian politician, political theorist, and revolutionary, Leon Trotsky developed a political ideology called Trotskyism, which eventually had a considerable impact on Russian politics. He also played a vital role in leading the Red Army to victory in the Russian Civil War.

 27 
Alexander Suvorov
(Russian Military Commander Known for His Achievements in the Russo-Turkish War)
Alexander Suvorov
5
Birthdate: November 24, 1729
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Moscow, Russia
Died: May 18, 1800

Aleksandr Vasilyevich Suvorov was a distinguished Russian General, remembered for winning every battle that he had commanded. Known for his thumping victories at the Battle of Rymnik and Siege of Izmail during the Russo-Turkish War and for his contributions during the French Revolutionary Wars, he won many awards and tittles and wrote several military manuals, including The Science of Victory.

 28 
Aleksandr Dugin
(Analyst)
Aleksandr Dugin
5
Birthdate: January 7, 1962
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Moscow, Russia

One of the prime organizers of the National Bolshevik Party, Russian politologist Aleksandr Dugin is known for his association with fascism. He supports the creation of a Eurasian empire, which will oppose North Atlantic interests. He has also penned books such as The Fourth Political Theory and Foundations of Geopolitics.

 29 
Boris Godunov
(Tsar of Russia (1598 to 1605))
Boris Godunov
3
Birthdate: August 12, 1552
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Vyazma, Russia
Died: April 23, 1605
 30 
Mikhail Kalinin
(Soviet Communist Leader and Statesman)
Mikhail Kalinin
4
Birthdate: November 19, 1875
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Verkhnyaya Troitsa, Russia
Died: June 3, 1946

Mikhail Kalinin was a Soviet politician and an Old Bolshevik revolutionary. From 1919 to 1946, Kalinin served as head of state of the Soviet Union. After Kalinin's death, three major cities of the Soviet Union were named or renamed in his honor.

 31 
Vyacheslav Molotov
(1st Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Soviet Union (1942 – 1957))
Vyacheslav Molotov
9
Birthdate: March 9, 1890
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Sovetsk, Russia
Died: November 8, 1986

Vyacheslav Molotov was a Soviet diplomat and politician. An Old Bolshevik, Molotov played a key role in bringing the Bolsheviks to power. He also played a major role during the Great Purge, signing 373 execution lists. Molotov was portrayed by actor Michael Palin in the 2017 political satire black comedy film The Death of Stalin.

 32 
Ramzan Kadyrov
(Head of the Chechen Republic)
Ramzan Kadyrov
14
Birthdate: October 5, 1976
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Tsentaroy, Russia

Ramzan Kadyrov, who heads the Chechen Republic, is the son of Akhmad Kadyrov, former Chechen president. A major figure of the Chechen independence movement, he fought against Russians during the 1st Chechen War. He has also launched wrestling tournaments and is part of the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences.

 33 
Lavrentiy Beria
(1st Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers)
Lavrentiy Beria
8
Birthdate: March 29, 1899
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Merkheuli, Russia
Died: December 23, 1953
Lavrentiy Beria was a Soviet politician and a Bolshevik. He became a premier under Stalin and played a major role during World War II. He later served as the minister of internal affairs and the first deputy chairman of the council of ministers, and oversaw his country’s atomic bomb project. 
 34 
Konstantin Chernenko
(Seventh General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union)
Konstantin Chernenko
5
Birthdate: September 24, 1911
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Bol'shaya Tes', Russia
Died: March 10, 1985

Soviet politician Konstantin Chernenko was the fifth General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. Born to a poor family from Siberia, he developed an early interest in politics. He joined the Communist Party as a young man and rose through the ranks in the ensuing decades. He was awarded Hero of Socialist Labour in 1984. 

 35 
Michael I of Russia
Michael I of Russia
3
Birthdate: July 12, 1596
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Moscow
Died: July 12, 1645
 36 
Nikita Khrushchev
(Former Premier of the Soviet Union)
Nikita Khrushchev
27
Birthdate: April 15, 1894
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Kalinovka, Dmitriyevsky Uyezd, Kursk Governorate, Russian Empire
Died: September 11, 1971

Nikita Khrushchev was the Soviet Premier from 1958 to 1964 and the first Communist Party secretary of the Soviets. He initially supported Stalin’s “purges” but denounced them in the Secret Speech to the 20th Party Congress. His reign saw the Suez Crisis, the Sputnik launch, and the 1960 U-2 incident.

 37 
Mikhail Kutuzov
(Military officer)
Mikhail Kutuzov
7
Birthdate: September 16, 1745
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Saint Petersburg, Russia
Died: April 28, 1813
Height: 5'9" (175 cm)
 38 
Vladimir Zhirinovsky
(Member of the State Duma since 1993)
Vladimir Zhirinovsky
3
Birthdate: April 25, 1946
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Almaty, Kazakhstan
Height: 5'9" (175 cm)
 39 
Leonid Brezhnev
(General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union Between 1964 and 1982)
Leonid Brezhnev
17
Birthdate: December 19, 1906
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Kamenskoe, Yekaterinoslav Governorate, Russian Empire
Died: November 10, 1982
Leonid Brezhnev served as the leader of the Soviet Union, as the general secretary of the Communist Party, from 1964 to 1982, and as the chairman of the presidium of the Supreme Soviet from 1977 to 1982. His reign is significant for its rampant corruption and economic stagnation. 
 40 
Alexei Kosygin
(Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Soviet Union from 1964 to 1980)
Alexei Kosygin
3
Birthdate: February 21, 1904
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Saint Petersburg, Russia
Died: December 18, 1980

Alexei Kosygin was a Soviet-Russian statesman who played an important role during the Cold War. From 1964 to 1980, Kosygin was the Premier of the Soviet Union, a position that enabled him to become one of the most influential policymakers in the Soviet Union during the mid-1960s. Today, Kosygin is considered a prominent figure in both Soviet and Russian history.

 41 
Roman von Ungern-Sternberg
(Russian Military Personnel)
Roman von Ungern-Sternberg
2
Birthdate: January 10, 1886
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Graz, Austria
Died: September 15, 1921

Russian baron Roman von Ungern-Sternberg gained fame as an anticommunist general during the Russian Civil War. Also known as the Mad Baron for his cruelty toward his enemies, he had converted to Buddhism but retained strains of Christianity in his faith. He was eventually executed by a firing squad.

 42 
Grigory Orlov
(Military officer)
Grigory Orlov
3
Birthdate: October 6, 1734
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Lyutkino, Russia
Died: April 13, 1783
 43 
Ivan Konev
(One of the Outstanding Soviet Generals in World War II)
Ivan Konev
5
Birthdate: December 28, 1897
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Lodeyno, Russia
Died: May 21, 1973

Ivan Konev was a Marshal of the Soviet Union and general. He is remembered for leading the Red Army on the Eastern Front during the Second World War. He also played important roles in World War I and the Russian Civil War before working his way to the top. He remained a respected military figure until his death in 1973.

 44 
Joseph Stalin
(Soviet Political Leader & Dictator Who Led the Soviet Union from 1922 Until His Death in 1953)
Joseph Stalin
79
Birthdate: December 18, 1878
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Gori, Georgia
Died: March 5, 1953

Controversial Russian dictator, Joseph Stalin, ruled the Soviet Union for around 25 years from 1929 to 1953 and is credited for making it a prominent industrial and military power of the world. During the Second World War, his army defeated the Nazis too. However, his regime was also one of terror and brutality where numerous Soviet citizens lost their lives.

 45 
Vasily Chuikov
(Military officer)
Vasily Chuikov
6
Birthdate: February 12, 1900
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Tula Oblast
Died: March 18, 1982

Soviet military general Vasily Chuikov is best known for his heroics in the Battle of Stalingrad during World War II. He led the Soviet march into Berlin that led to the surrender of the Germans. Following the war, he became a member of the Communist Party’s Central Committee.

 46 
Mikhail Mishustin
(Serving as Prime Minister of Russia since 16 January 2020)
Mikhail Mishustin
0
Birthdate: March 3, 1966
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Lobnya, Russia
 47 
Andrei Gromyko
(Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet from 1985 to 1988)
Andrei Gromyko
3
Birthdate: July 18, 1909
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Starye Gromyki, Belarus
Died: July 2, 1989

Son of a Belarusian farmer, Andrei Gromyko grew up studying agriculture. He had already started delivering anti-religious speeches by 13 and later joined the Communist Party. He later served as the Soviet foreign minister and then the head of state, becoming popular as Mr. Nyet for vetoing UN proposals often.

 48 
Alina Kabaeva
(Russian Politician, Media Manager and Retired Rhythmic Gymnast)
Alina Kabaeva
3
Birthdate: May 12, 1983
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Tashkent, Uzbekistan
Height: 5'5" (165 cm)
 49 
Mikhail Tukhachevsky
(Soviet General Who was a Major Proponent of Modernization of Soviet Army in the 1920s and 1930s)
Mikhail Tukhachevsky
3
Birthdate: February 16, 1893
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Slednevo, Russia
Died: June 12, 1937

Mikhail Tukhachevsky was a Soviet theoretician and military leader. He is best remembered for commanding the Western Front during the Polish-Soviet War. From 1925 to 1928, he served as the Red Army's chief of staff and commanded the Volga Military District in 1937. In 1935, he was appointed Marshal of the Soviet Union.

 50 
Georgy Lvov
(8th Prime Minister of Russia (March 1917 - July 1917))
Georgy Lvov
3
Birthdate: November 2, 1861
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Dresden, Germany
Died: March 7, 1925

Russian statesman Georgy Lvov created history by becoming the first prime minister of the Russian provisional government formed during the 1917 February Revolution. A qualified lawyer, he worked in civil service for a few years, before joining the Kadet Party, or the Constitutional Democratic Party.