The 20th Congress of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union took place in Moscow on February 14, 1956, almost three years after the death of Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin and roughly two and a half years into the leadership of Nikita Khrushchev. During this period, the Soviet Union experienced noticeable changes, the most prominent of which was the mass release of political prisoners. With this release, the grim reality of Stalin's repressive system became starkly apparent to the public, a reality that had previously lingered vaguely in the background. This precarious situation, wherein the machinery of repression had come to a halt, yet the principles of Stalin's policies remained effectively in place, posed a significant risk to the regime.| Khrushchev recognized the need for action to address this situation, preparing to expose Stalinism while simultaneously reinforcing both the authority of the Communist Party and his own power. By taking this bold step, Khrushchev aimed not only to distance himself from Stalin's legacy but also to address growing public sentiment and demands for transparency. This denunciation was a strategic move that would set the stage for changing the political landscape in the Soviet Union and altering the relationship between the state and its citizens.| As this report unfolded, it faced the complexities of the past and the system’s inherent tensions. While Khrushchev's actions aimed to signal an end to the terror of Stalin's reign, they also left unanswered questions regarding the continuity of the regime's underlying policies. The Congress marked a crucial turning point in Soviet history, ultimately reshaping the political discourse and expectations of governance in the USSR as it grappled with the legacies of Stalin's drastic rule.