"For 73 years a totalitarian regime ruled the country. Totalitarian regime"

Aleksandr Lebed's quote is referring to the 73-year duration of Soviet rule in Russia. Throughout this time, the Soviet Union was a totalitarian regime, indicating that the federal government had total control over all elements of life. This included the economy, politics, media, and culture. The federal government was highly oppressive and pre-owned worry and intimidation to preserve its power. Individuals were rejected standard rights and liberties, and dissent was not endured. The Soviet Union was a one-party state, and the Communist Party had absolute control over the nation. This duration of Soviet rule was marked by repression, censorship, and human rights abuses. It was just after the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991 that Russia had the ability to move away from totalitarianism and towards democracy.