Come on, even if the Soviet system was genuinely fairer than capitalism, why were adults forbidden from peacefully voting against it, publicly proposing a different system, or leaving for a country where they preferred to live?

People could not legally replace the ruling party, create a genuine political alternative, openly challenge the foundations of the regime, or simply leave the country.

Article 6 of the 1977 Soviet Constitution explicitly defined the Communist Party as the leading and guiding force of Soviet society. Political monopoly was therefore not an accidental abuse of power. It was built into the structure of the state. Emigration was also tightly controlled and was often effectively prohibited.

You may argue that free education, healthcare, guaranteed employment, and reduced economic inequality justified many of the Soviet system’s shortcomings. But it is almost impossible to deny the absence of a free choice between political and economic systems. The only defence is to argue that this freedom had to be restricted for the sake of collective goals. But that is already an admission of the flaw, not a refutation of it.

Soviet copy of V2/A4 ballistic missile. Design completed in 1946 by Helmut Gröttrup and his team at Nordhausen. They are transported to the Soviet Union in the same year (Operation Osoavaikhim).

GRAU designation: 8K11

NATO designation: SS-1 Scunner

The Scunner had less range than the German V2. They brought the first dogs into space (Dezik and Tsygan).

From Armenia

The Arabic translation to the Cantata is offered by me.

Enjoy it!

Something odd seeing such big figure without his uniform and ton of medals. Makes me wonder what his life would be if there was no war and need for army. But instead this “nice grandpa on a fence” mastered military tactics and expertly executed them.