Russian Lustrum

Russian Power Struggle
	Part of the Silent War
Date	1973-1978
Location	Russian National Republic
Result	Ilya Kiselev arrested and overthrown (1973); Rule of the Committee of National Affairs (1973-1975); First democratic elections in Russia (1978); Sergey Gromov becomes first democratically elected chairman (1978);
Belligerents
Committee of National Affairs - Yevgeny Petrov	Ilya Semyonovich Kiselev

The Russian Power Struggle of 1973-1978, also known as the Interim Period, was a significant period in the history of the Russian National Republic, marked by political instability and a dramatic and unexpected shift in power. The crisis began with the orchestrated arrest of Chairman Ilya Kiselev and other officials during the "Great Bureaucratic Cleansing" in 1973 and ended with the first free elections in Russia in 1978, which led to the rise of opposition leader Sergey Gromov.

Background

Removal of Ilya Kiselev from power

Prior to the power struggle, Russia was governed by hardliner Chairman Ilya Kiselev. During Kiselev's tenure as the head of state, the Silent War had already been underway, and tensions between Russia and Great Britain and other ODN member states were further exacerbated by proxy conflicts sanctioned by Kiselev, such as the Numidian-Algerian War (1957-1958) and the Russo-Persian War (1960-1963).

Sjimjang nuclear disaster (1971) and Russian corruption

In 1971, the Sjimjang nuclear power plant in Corea, which was sponsored by Russia, suffered a nuclear disaster, causing widespread radiation and health concerns. The accident contributed to an already growing global movement of nuclear skepticism, which in turn contributed to a rise in global oil prices. An investigation into the incident revealed the use of substandard materials in the plant's construction, and eventually brought public attention to the widespread corruption within the Russian government. Despite efforts to cover up the scandal, the Russian government was unable to hide the pervasive corruption, and the public became increasingly distrustful of the government.

Arrest of Ilya Kiselev (1973)

As the scandal continued to unfold, distrust against Russia grew among several National Republican factions abroad. Once several prominent members of the Russian government realized it could no longer hide the incident and the pervasive corruption, they decided to shift the blame to Chairman Ilya Kiselev. In a dramatic turn of events, Kiselev was betrayed by members of the Committee of National Affairs, led by Yevgeny Petrov, and arrested in 1973.

The power struggle

In 1973, Yevgeny Petrov, a key member of the Committee of National Affairs (CNA), orchestrated the arrest of Kiselev and other officials, known as the Great Bureaucratic Cleansing. This event was a thinly-veiled coup, allowing the CNA to take control of the government and run the country according to their own interests.

Induction of opposition members into the Committee of National Affairs

To gain public support and give off the facade of a functioning and inclusive government, Petrov suggested inducting several members of the opposition into the CNA in 1974, including the popular opposition leader Sergey Gromov. However, Petrov underestimated Gromov's political acumen and ability to influence other members of the CNA. He promoted for government reforms that were wildly popular among the Russian public and even among members in the Russian National Republican Party.

Failed Assassination of Gromov

At the height of his popularity in 1975, an unsuccessful assassination plot was carried out against Gromov, resulting in rumors implicating Yevgeny Petrov. Although no conclusive evidence was presented to prove his involvement, the suspicion of Petrov's complicity in the scheme became widely known. The failed assassination attempt ultimately proved to be counterproductive, as it not only failed to eliminate Gromov as a political threat but also contributed to an increase in his popularity, while simultaneously causing significant damage to Petrov's reputation.

Push for Reform and Free Elections

Under mounting pressure from both the public and several members of the CNA who sided with Gromov, Petrov and his allies reluctantly agreed to hold free elections, in the hopes of maintaining some influence in the new political landscape. When the elections were held in 1978, Gromov's faction won a majority in the National Congress, effectively putting him in control of the government and completing the unexpected shift in power.