"The mass graves were filled with people -- others estimate up to 100,000 -- that were tortured and shot by the dreaded NKVD, a precursor to the KGB, during Stalin's repressive and violent rule in the run up to the Russia's Great Patriotic War. . nonterminal:folks faction photograph hoops?disentangling creditcard Finding the perfect spot proved tough, as East Coast cities are so close together that the stars are drowned out by light, Hetlage said.