Freedom of speech was suppressed and dissent was punished. Independent political activities were not tolerated, whether they involved participation in free labor unions, private corporations, independent churches or opposition political parties.

After the Soviet Union's collapse in 1991, Russia assumed responsibility for its foreign debt of some US$70 billion. This was mostly contracted during the difficult perestroika era from 1985 to 1991, a time of failed attempts to reform the USSR's dysfunctional political and economic system.