Asked about Joseph Stalin, who ruled the Soviet Union for more than two decades, Bryzgalov said: "Yes, he knew what he was doing. He is described as a 'bloody tyrant.' But at the time it couldn't be any other way. Yes, there were innocent people who were victims of repressions. . . . But it happens. Not long ago in the U.S., a person was released from prison who spent 45 years there. It turned out he was innocent. Can you imagine, a person spending his entire life in jail for something he didn't do?"