As world leaders tried to avoid kissing Brezhnev

• As the world's leaders tried to avoid kissing Brezhnev

CPSU General Secretary Leonid Brezhnev often met other leaders in accordance with the centuries-old Russian tradition, a triple kiss, but not everybody likes it, and some have tried by all means to avoid these fraternal kisses.

As world leaders tried to avoid kissing Brezhnev

The picture Dmitry Vrubel "Brotherly Kiss", which shows the CC CPSU General Secretary Leonid Brezhnev and his German counterpart, the first secretary of the SED Erich Honecker

CPSU General Secretary Leonid Brezhnev often met other leaders in accordance with the centuries-old Russian tradition, a triple kiss, but not everybody likes it, and some tried to avoid at all costs fraternal kisses.

As world leaders tried to avoid kissing Brezhnev

Joseph Stalin kisses Polar pilot Vasily Molokova on his return to Moscow from Arctic explorer Otto Schmidt, July 4, 1937

The Soviet leaders were famous for their warm hugs and fraternal kisses with his comrades. Stalin kissed Soviet pilots and kiss Nikita Khrushchev's first cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin is a cult image.

As world leaders tried to avoid kissing Brezhnev

The kiss between the leaders of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia and the Soviet Union, Gustav Husak and Leonid Brezhnev in Prague, 5 May 1970

Soviet leader, the most famous in the world by how warmly he welcomed his guests, was Leonid Brezhnev, head of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union from 1964 to 1982. In general, he was the target of many jokes, and his passionate kisses often caused laughter. The so-called "triple Brezhnev" became famous abroad: a kiss on the left cheek, one - in the right hand, and then, finally, on the lips. However, in fairness, we should say that Brezhnev did not always kissing people on the lips.

As world leaders tried to avoid kissing Brezhnev

Leonid Brezhnev hugging Fidel Castro during his visit to Moscow

Not everyone likes too warm greetings Brezhnev, so some of the heads of states have found ways to avoid the kiss powerful Soviet leader. For example, Cuban leader Fidel Castro has decided to leave his plane at a Moscow airport with a cigar in his mouth. Brezhnev, who met his Cuban friend, simply had no opportunity to demonstrate traditional Russian hospitality.

As world leaders tried to avoid kissing Brezhnev

Nicolae Ceausescu meets with Leonid Brezhnev in the Crimea in 1979

Romanian leader Nicolae Ceausescu, who was rumored to have suffered bacteriophobia, found a way to get rid of Brezhnev's claims without offending his feelings. Perhaps the Soviet leader thought it was another sign of the special status of Romania in the Eastern block in Bucharest really enjoyed considerable autonomy compared with other socialist states.

As world leaders tried to avoid kissing Brezhnev

Yugoslav President Josip Broz Tito welcomes Leonid Brezhnev in Belgrade Airport in 1971

However, some of the leaders appreciated Brezhnev kissing. Photo kiss of Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi with the Soviet leader on the wall in her house-museum. A kiss between Brezhnev and Yugoslav leader Josip Broz Tito was rumored to be so strong that the latter started bleeding lip.

As world leaders tried to avoid kissing Brezhnev

Leonid Brezhnev and Yasser Arafat during a meeting in the Kremlin in 1975

It is said that one of the first political kissing Brezhnev went to Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, who arrived in the Soviet Union in 1968.

As world leaders tried to avoid kissing Brezhnev

The kiss between Leonid Brezhnev and Erich Honecker on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the German Democratic Republic in 1979 Of course, the most famous was the kissing East German leader Erich Honecker in 1979. Later, he was immortalized on the Berlin Wall artist Dmitry Vrubel, whose picture is called "God, help me to survive this mortal love" or "Brotherly Kiss".

As world leaders tried to avoid kissing Brezhnev

Leonid Brezhnev kissing the cheek of the United States President Jimmy Carter in 1979

Brezhnev kissing leaders not only of the socialist countries, but also neutral, belonging to the so-called Non-Aligned Movement. Sometimes Soviet leader touched his lips, even to the opponents of the capitalist world. This was the case with US President Jimmy Carter.

As world leaders tried to avoid kissing Brezhnev

Leonid Brezhnev on the Hungarian agricultural exhibition in Budapest in 1967

Another American, dance teacher Anne Hallman, part of the US delegation, which visited the USSR in 1973, also had a chance to experience the kiss of Brezhnev. Their joint photo made her famous on both sides of the Atlantic.

As world leaders tried to avoid kissing Brezhnev

Leonid Brezhnev escorted a delegation from Bulgaria and its leader Todor Zhivkov in 1969

Not everyone in the Soviet establishment believed kisses Brezhnev's a good idea. Yuri Andropov, head of the KGB under Brezhnev and his successor at the helm of the Soviet Union after the death of one of his subordinates expressed their horror about kissing Brezhnev. However, in public he always welcomed the warm embrace of the general secretary.