Dolgikh, V. I.

CC CPSU Politburo Session nominating Gorbachev for General Secretary after the death of Konstantin Ustinovich Chernenko. Many members of the politburo spoke in favor of Gorbachev for General Secretary. They make a unanimous recommendation to the Plenum of CC CPSU.

Gorbachev and other Politburo members discussed the pressing issue of the return of Crimean Tatars to Crimea.

At a conference led by CPSU General Secretary Yuri Andropov, senior Soviet officials discussed the reorganization of responsibilities among Party Secretaries, improving economic performance mid-way through the five-year plan, enhancing oversight and accountability in ministries, boosting labor discipline, and increasing hard currency earnings through better exports. The discussion emphasized reducing bureaucracy, strengthening ties with local organizations, and improving the quality of domestic production to compete internationally.