It was the architecture the magnificent buildings mixed with the lack of infrastructure. The language. The everyone is equal malarkey. Women digging the roads, the language (not the food!.
That Russia won the 2nd world war.
Yuri Gagarin
Propaganda posters
The queues for vodka, the cigarettes , half cardboard cylinder half tobacco, night trains, the multitude of little tin badges. The sound of the language.

Nothing really of world shattering importance just total fascination of a world at that time seen by few.

Behind the iron curtain was an unknown world.

Yes Belarus is not a place to be, though I went to Moldova and Transnistria earlier this year and I loved it lust loved it.