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U.S.S.R.: THE CORRUPT SOCIETY by Konstantin Simis Simon & Schuster; 316 pages...
Gogoliana abound in this mesmerizing catalogue of corruption by Konstantin Simis, a former Soviet trial lawyer. One reprise from Dead Souls takes place in the ancient town of Ruza, near Moscow. The manager of a construction outfit, in need of ready cash for his business's bribery fund, resorts to a common practice: putting nonexistent workers on the payroll and then collecting their salaries. Simis writes: "To ensure that his 'dead souls' really were dead, [the Ruza manager] went out to the municipal cemetery and meticulously copied down the names of dead people from the gravestones...
...only four contenders who hold the combination of posts thought necessary for a potential party chief: membership in both the Politburo, the 13-man council that makes all major policy decisions, and the Central Committee Secretariat. His three most prominent rivals are Economic Expert Andrei Kirilenko, 75, Administrator Konstantin Chernenko, 70, and Agricultural Specialist Mikhail Gorbachev...
...rumored either to have been struck down by heart by heart disease or to be in disgrace. Kirilenko's appearance on the reviewing stand, two seats away from Brezhnev, revived longstanding speculation that he was next in line to succeed Brezhnev. Kirilenko's rival for the succession, Konstantin Chernenko, 70, who had occupied the pre-eminent place at Brezhnev's right hand during Kirilenko's absence, was also seated at two removes from the President on May Day. At Brezhnev's right was Premier Nikolai Tikhonov, 76, a dark horse in the Kremlin sweepstakes. Moscow...
...officials took their places onstage, spectators scrutinized the lineup for possible changes in the pecking order. Konstantin Chernenko, 70, took his usual place at Brezhnev's right side, indicating that he was still the heir apparent. On Brezhnev's left was another strong candidate, Grishin. Then came Prime Minister Nikolai Tikhonov, 76, Andropov and Defense Minister Dmitri Ustinov, 73, who are all contenders. Conspicuously absent was Andrei Kirilenko, 75, the former No. 2 man in the Politburo, who is believed to be ill or in disfavor, and has not been seen for the past three months...