“Yagoda’s fate is tragic. He tried to hold back the terror but gave in under pressure from the main criminal. Bastards everyone of us: Yagoda and I, and those who replaced us. We became criminals because we did not murder the one who forced us and forces our successors to commit crimes. I have three days left to live, and I am not afraid to say that this main criminal is Stalin!”
Unnamed Prisoner in conversation with Anna Larina