well here’s what the CIA declassified documents have to say on that
Even in Stalin’s time there was collective leadership. The Western idea of a dictator within the Communist setup is exaggerated. Misunderstandings on that subject are caused by a lack of comprehension of the real nature and organization of the Communist’s power structure.
that’s cool and all, but what if I didn’t like stalin?
well here’s what the CIA declassified documents have to say on that
http://web.archive.org/web/20230525044208/https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP80-00810A006000360009-0.pdf