Russian to English Art/Literary History idiom

Это был абсолютно не возможный в иное время, при иных обстоятельствах **шаг у Сталина.** Но там, в далёкой Молдавии, он, Леонид, перешагнул Сталина, и сделал это не по глупости иль с отчаянья.

This is about how when nobody in Moldova came to vote after WWII, Brezhnev, who was in charge in a certain area, told his subordinates to stuff the ballot boxes with blank paper. The subordinates were terrified at what the consequences would be from "higher up." I get that Leonid "jumped over" Stalin, but don't understand the marked phrase. (PS: I have no idea whether this is true; it's a novel.)

Thanks!