Abstract <p>This article is focused on the changes in the nature of the relationship between the Union center and regional party leadership during the rule of L.I. Brezhnev. Seeking to strengthen his position, he introduced a new model of governance, within which the “regionals” served as one of the new USSR leader’s main supporters, with Brezhnev himself serving as their personal patron. At the same time, a system of checks and balances was being built, aimed at limiting the power of the first secretaries of regional party organizations, tying them to the Union center as the arbiter of disputes and a source of resources. This model achieved the main goal—consolidating Brezhnev’s position at the top of the power hierarchy. However, the deterioration of his health and decline in his ability to work, which became evident by the mid-1970s, spurred the “regionals” to acquire significantly greater independence, forming their own interests and networks. The struggle against these phenomena became a key component of the post-Brezhnev period of Soviet political history.</p>