(from an exUSSR, with sympathy) It was hard in USSR to buy degrees and many USSR leaders actually have degrees. But our former leaders successfully exploited v

(from an exUSSR, with sympathy) It was hard in USSR to buy degrees and many USSR leaders actually have degrees. But our former leaders successfully exploited various loopholes in the education process and got good grades for social/political activities, not for education achievements. So all in all, those looking for power will find their way through any system.