Crossword Genius

Russia often put this out: 'Support an idiot as leader!' (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

agitprop

'russia often put this out' is the definition.
(term for USSR propaganda)

'support an idiot as leader' is the wordplay.
'support' becomes 'prop' (prop is a kind of support).
'an' becomes 'a'.
'idiot' becomes 'git'.
'as leader' means one lot of letters go next to another (some letters go in front of the others).
'a'+'git'='agit'
'prop' put after 'agit' is 'AGITPROP'.

(Other definitions for agitprop that I've seen before include "revolutionary comment" , "Misleading info" , "Politically loaded material" , "left-wing literature" , "Form of propaganda" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.
Want a hint initially instead of a full solution? Install my app