Thread:VisualEditor/Feedback/Nowiki tag/reply

I think that would require this bug to be fixed in Parsoid. Anyway, I'd recommend you include "trails" such as the s in the case above in the link: write Padomju Savienības and then select both the words to link to Padomju Savienība. Combine this to the "golden rule" of applying annotations (ie. bold or italics) to the word always before applying the link, and you'll get rid of most nowiki tags and ugly syntax.