Editing Pyotr Masherov (section)

=== Consideration for promotion ===
Masherov was mentioned as a possible candidate for multiple positions within the Soviet government. Prior to his death he was a candidate member of the Politburo, and it has been stated by some such as the ''[[Washington Post]]'' that he intended to become [[Premier of the Soviet Union|Premier]] following the death of his mentor, Kosygin.<ref name=":6" /> More radically, it has been suggested by ''[[Moskovskij Komsomolets]]'' that Masherov was intended to be a possible successor to Brezhnev as [[General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union|General Secretary of the CPSU]], backed up by a reformist "Komsomol Group" which also included [[Mikhail Zimyanin]]. The alleged group was opposed to the [[Dnipropetrovsk Mafia]], Brezhnev's clique within the CPSU.<ref>{{Cite web|date=1 July 2018|title=How Komsomol Members Took Power: Undercover Wars for a Warm Place|url=https://www.mk.ru/social/2018/07/01/kak-komsomolcy-shli-k-vlasti-podkovernye-voyny-za-teploe-mesto.html|access-date=29 July 2021|website=[[Moskovskij Komsomolets]]}}</ref> Such a claim was also supported by a 1977 CIA report which cast Masherov as a leading member of a "Belorussian Faction" which Brezhnev viewed as a serious threat to his rule.<ref name=":9">{{Cite web |date=27 January 1977 |title=The USSR: Regional and Political Analysis |url=https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP79T00912A000100010001-7.pdf |access-date=26 June 2022 |website=Central Intelligence Agency}}</ref> However, others have disputed this, including Masherov's sister Olga, who has said that Brezhnev and Masherov maintained an amicable personal and political relationship.<ref name=":7">{{Cite book|last=Masherova|first=Olga|title=Our Roots|pages=85}}</ref>