This article examines the issue of social status and political role of former Soviet ruling bureaucracy (nomenclature) during post communist transformations in Ukraine and Belarus, from the beginning of 1990-s till nowadays. The short overview of Western and CIS scientific literature on the problem is given. The author analyses the group interests of nomenclature groups and how they influenced the development of political systems and establishing the certain type of political regime in Ukraine and Belarus. Using the elements of comparative approach the author managed to outline the specific features of nomenclature's status in above-mentioned countries. The role of former Soviet ruling bureaucracy in strengthening the authoritarian trends is shown. One of the main conclusions is that the nomenclature remains the consolidated social strata in the mentioned countries even now, and its influence on the substance of social and political transformations cannot be overestimated.