After the death of L.I. Brezhnev in 1982, Yuri Andropov led the Soviet Union for 15 months.

Under Andropov, one of the main areas of work of the state security bodies was the fight against the dissident movement, the expulsion of «anti-Soviet elements» from the country began, and their compulsory psychiatric treatment was carried out. Andropov was one of the members of the Politburo who, in 1979, signed a document on the introduction of Soviet troops into Afghanistan. At the top management post, Andropov began an active struggle against the so-called «parasitism», measures were taken everywhere to strengthen labor discipline. Police raids began in the cities - people were caught in cinemas and shops during working hours.