A few weeks before the December 1953 execution of Lavrenty Beria, Stalin's fellow Georgian who became boss of the Soviet secret police. Foreign Minister Molotov gave a big party at the old Spiri-donovka Palace in Moscow. Except for Malenkov, Khrushchev and Voroshilov, all the Soviet leaders were there, rubbing shoulders with several hundred foreign diplomats and newsmen. In a corner of the ornate reception room, Politburocrats matched toasts with the ambassadors of Britain, France, Red China and the U.S., and for once vodka seemed to relax the occupationally tight-mouthed.
Lusty old Lazar...
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