It was developed during Yuri Andropov's times in the early 1980s. The suitcases were put into service just as Mikhail Gorbachev took office in March 1985.[citation needed] It is connected to the special communications system code-named Kavkaz (after the Caucasus Mountains), which "supports communication between senior government officials while they are making the decision whether to use nuclear weapons, and in its own turn is plugged into Kazbek, which embraces all the individuals and agencies involved in command and control of the Strategic Nuclear Forces." The Russian President has a cheget on hand at all times. It is usually assumed although not known with certainty that the nuclear briefcases are also issued to the Minister of Defense and the Chief of the General Staff. The General St