Ok, so what happened to the leaders of the Communist party in Soviet times? I mean, other than Gorbachev, I know what he did.. But what about the others, they can't all have retired... Are most of them still active politically, if so in what party? Or did they go into private business....?

Oops, I just realised: Conservativism in Russia is a completely different thing than in Britain, for example. I guess Conservativism in Russia is "back to the USSR" in some form or shape.... In that case, I can understand how the KPRF can call themselves Conservatives.

I think the USSR did many things really well, and it is a pity that those things were thrown out together with the stuff that people were sick off.
Education, sports programs for example, welfare for old people. That is my impression anyway.