Final answer:
After Stalin's death, Nikita Khrushchev became the leader of the Soviet Union and initiated de-Stalinization, denouncing Stalin's dictatorship and its violent purges, and easing political repression.
Step-by-step explanation:
After the death of Joseph Stalin in 1953, the Soviet Union went through a period of internal struggle for power, eventually leading to Nikita Khrushchev's emergence as the leader in 1955. One of the most significant actions he took was his denunciation of Stalin during the Twentieth Congress of the Soviet Communist Party in February 1956. Khrushchev's speech revealed the internal corruption and violent purges enacted during Stalin's regime. This process of uncovering Stalin's abuses and initiating reforms became known as de-Stalinization. Khrushchev discontinued the use of the secret police against dissenters, moved towards reducing censorship of arts and intellectuals, and dismantled the personality cult that surrounded Stalin, marking a clear shift in Soviet politics and policy.