What Russian leader significantly altered political, diplomatic, and economic policies in the Soviet Union after 1985? AP World History Chapter 36 What Russian leader significantly altered political, diplomatic, and economic policies in the Soviet Union after 1985? (A) Yuri Andropov (B) Leonid Brezhnev (C) Mikhail Gorbachev (D) Yuri Gagarin (E) Rudolph Nureyev Answer: C Learn More : Share this Share on FacebookTweet on TwitterPlus on Google+