"Is this brown bear actually safe? Can you guarantee it?" Andrei asked Natalia seriously.
After all, he only wanted a photo opportunity. If this three-meter-tall brown bear suddenly went berserk, his body would not survive the experience. He had no intention of becoming another humiliating death clip circulating on YouTube under 'political leaders who died stupidly.'
"It's already been fed and injected with a generous dose of sedatives," Natasha replied calmly, as if discussing the weather. "It's well-trained and has rehearsed this multiple times. The chance of an accident is extremely low. And the anesthesia rifle is ready."
Andrei was fairly certain she was enjoying this far too much.
Unlike her, almost everyone else present was drenched in cold sweat. Many leaders enjoyed theatrical stunts, but who would have imagined that Andrei would insist on riding a bear across a river?
This is really too dangerous.
Yet the bear, symbol of the so-called Evil Empire had always been beloved by the people. Everyone knew how dangerous such a creature was, which made controlling it all the more impressive. Taming a bear was never easy.
Recently, Andrei had been under relentless criticism, both domestic and foreign. Still, he refused to impose media censorship.
After all he didn't want to create an echo chamber like other dictators. He wanted to see the genuine reaction of his people so they could bask in the glory of Andrei, their beloved handsome dictator.
If he rode a bear across a turbulent river by himself, this must be a very popular thing for the people and it will be very beneficial to your own image and rule.
A good image is really important.
Andrei's leadership doesn't have to be wise nor correct, his image and his people are there, and he can make a difference. to an effective stabilization effect. He needs to overwhelm ambitious people with prestige.
And prestige, once established, was far harder to challenge than tanks.
...
Beyond shaping his personal image, Andrei also wanted to borrow prestige from history and attach himself to a legacy, turning himself into a leader "destined for greatness."
Unfortunately, his own background offered little help. His ancestors were ordinary farmers, and he had never fought in a war.
So he chose a shortcut.
Andrei arranged a public visit with Victoria Brezhneva, the widow of the late Leonid Brezhnev. During the meeting, he spoke highly of Brezhnev's contributions, calling him one of the great leaders of his era and a man who had guided the Soviet people through difficult times. Andrei said that as Brezhnev's successor, he respected his legacy and would continue serving the people inspired by his example.
At the same time, the Propaganda Department released photographs of Andrei riding a large brown bear across a river. The images quickly appeared all over the country, posted on walls, printed in newspapers, and displayed in public spaces. Because of newly free international press, the photos soon spread overseas as well.
In the pictures, Andrei sat confidently on the bear, shirtless, smiling calmly. The animal looked unusually obedient, as if completely under his control.
To many people, the message was obvious: if a man could tame a brown bear, how powerful must he be?
The people always expect their leaders to be flawless and great figures, and they will always add glory to them unconsciously.
Andrei's stunt met those expectations perfectly.
The effect was even stronger because of an unexpected coincidence.
Around the same time, a photo of U.S. President Bush falling off a bicycle during a campaign event went viral. Western newspapers ended up showing the two images side by side.
On one page was a young leader riding a bear like Tarzan.
On the other, an older man lying beside a drainage ditch.
The contrast was brutal.
Public opinion in the United States reacted strongly. Critics mocked Bush as weak and ineffective, while foreign media openly laughed. Meanwhile, Andrei's image spread as that of a fearless and confident ruler.
Furious and embarrassed, Bush lashed out in private.
"Damn you, Andrei!" he shouted. "How dare you humiliate me like this? I want revenge!"
The CIA director, after enduring a storm of accusations for "failing to control the narrative," promised increased funding for separatist movements inside the Soviet Union as compensation.
If Andrei had known, he might have regretted the stunt.. Who knew these petty grudges led to international conflict?
...
Naturally, there was no shortage of intelligent voices within the Soviet Empire who dismissed the entire spectacle as vulgar theater. They criticized it as an obvious attempt to deceive the masses and cultivate a crude cult of personality.
Some even criticized him saying " See! The Soviet people are so poor that even their leader can't afford a shirt."
But such voices were drowned out.
For many ordinary people, the image worked. Andrei felt powerful, confident and different. A few dramatic photo ops did more to shape public opinion than years of speeches and debates.
Which made the intellectuals who worked hard to enlighten the people heartbroken.
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