the Soviet leadership (which wasn't the same as leadership of Russia, RSFSR, as it was known back then)
It's interesting to see that it's a common association made, USSR = RUSSIA... my opinion on this: it's a very common held belief in the west, is that in the satellite annexed states all decisions and orders to follow or die came from Moskow (which is Russian, even if occupied by Soviet), and most of the soldiers when trouble arise came from today Russia (and spoke Russian, not polnish or lavitanian)...
interesting picture about... as always... Vodka!
For me the biggest structural problem of USSR was the absence of check and balances... so when an idea was decided to be implemented... don't stand in the path... until the cliff. it was like obamacare on steroid... for everything...