G - Vasily Gordov (Commander of the troops of the Volga Military District).
R - Chief of Staff, Major General Filipp Rybalchenko.
Recorded by the MGB (Ministry of State Security) in 1946, this conversation became the reason for the execution of both men. It was declassified in 1991.
R. – The winter crops are lost, of course. Stalin passed through here, did he really not look out the window? Everyone is so dissatisfied with life; they speak about it completely openly, on trains, everywhere, they just speak outright.
G. – Eh! Nowadays everything is built on bribes and sycophancy. And they sidelined me in a flash because I refused to engage in bootlicking.
R. – Yes, everything is built on bribes. And look at what is happening all around: incredible hunger, everyone is dissatisfied. "Newspapers are nothing but lies" — that's what everybody is saying. They’ve installed so many ministers, bloated the bureaucracy. Just like in the old days — a priest, a constable, a village elder, 77 people sitting on the back of every peasant — it’s exactly the same now! And now the empty chatter about elections has started up again.
G. – Where are you going to vote?
R. – I'm not going to fucking vote. I'm not going anywhere. Such a situation can only exist in our country; only here can people be treated this way. Abroad, they treat the unemployed better than they treat generals here!
G. – In the past, one man ruled [referring to the Tsar], and we had everything. Now there are so many ministers, and it’s of no use whatsoever.
R. – We lack the bare necessities. We've literally become beggars. Only the government lives well, while the broad masses are living in poverty. I’m just amazed — does Stalin really not see how people are living?
….
R. – They think that once Stalin is gone, the kolkhozes [collective farms] will be gone too…