Leningrad City Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union
The Leningrad City Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, commonly referred to as the Leningrad CPSU gorkom, was the position of highest authority in the city of Leningrad roughly equating to that of mayor. The position was created in March 1918, and abolished on August 24, 1991 although most authority was lost in June that year to the position of Mayor of Saint Petersburg. The First Secretary was a de facto appointed position usually by the Politburo or the General Secretary himself. The First Secretary exercised a large influence throughout the Soviet Union.