Stalin had talked of Zhdanov being his successor, but Zhdanov's ill health gave his rivals, Lavrentiy Beria and Georgy Malenkov, an opportunity to undermine him.
Stalin havde talt om Zjdanov som en efterfølger, men Zjdanovs dårlige helbred gav hans rivaler, Berija og Malenkov, en mulighed for at underminere hans stilling.