It has become a tradition: the anniversary of the execution of the Romanovs, Russia’s Investigative Committee, delivers a message about the investigation on “Royal business”. To investigate which, in theory, has long been nothing. Didn’t bring anything new this year. Well, except for political reasons of a delay of closure: other factors that apparently were added by the rebellion of chiyoumen Sergius. On this and other oddities of the case, we talked with Vladimir Solovyov, a senior investigator with forensic TFR retired.
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Vladimir Solovyov was investigating the death of the Royal family from 1991 to 2015. In October of 2015 was actually dismissed from the case. In March 2020, resigned.
— Vladimir, so any thoughts you have about the latest statements of your colleagues?
— Idea number one: continue the investigation, from my point of view, can only give positive results as we receive new knowledge. It is interesting to historians, and lawyers. But you need to separate the issues regarding the investigation and disposal. These are totally different issues. Here is an example. Killed in 1990, Alexander Me. The murder is still not solved, but the Men were buried on the third day. This is an immutable rule: if the body is identified and all the necessary forensic examination, the remains should be buried.
Or take the same “Tsar”. The decision about the burial of the Romanovs and their servants, found in the main burial, it was decided by the government in February 1998. But the investigation continued until July 17 of that year, that is for another several months. Position of the investigation was: can we continue research, not related to identification. And it does not interfere with the burial.
the Most important thing that has been said in these statements is that the remains found in 2007 year, belong to Alexei and Maria. Let me remind you that in 2015, was created the interdepartmental working group on issues related to the study and reburial of the remains of crown Prince Alexei and Grand Duchess Maria. Decision on termination of its work was not. I, by the way, it is still formally included. But after 2015 no meetings were held.
the fact that the identification is completed, — the reason for the resumption of the activities of the working group. She should consider the materials of the investigation and of the totality of all data to make a decision. Maybe the group can say, “We are not satisfied with the examination you have made”. And it will make the Investigative Committee to conduct some additional research. Although I personally believe that the evidence is more than enough.
But according to the current head of the investigation of Marina Molodtsova, identification not complete. And it’s not only about Alexei and MarAI and all the “Yekaterinburg remains”. “We continue to collect materials and carry out all the necessary forensic examination to exclude the slightest doubt,” said Molodtsov in an interview with “Izvestia”, answering the question of the “situation identification”. That is, a doubt comes out, still remain.
— the Question should be: is there enough expertise in order to make a categorical conclusion that the remains? And the answer has already been given — the Chairman of the Investigative Committee. Bastrykin in 2018, said identification is completed. What, the investigation team has a different opinion on this? Or are they, as they said in Soviet times, working over the plan? All that was required, made, but they, as enthusiasts, decided to add. But Supplement can be infinite.
you Can, for example, to explore every bone in different ways. This might give us some knowledge. But the conclusions remain the same. Prior to the resumption of the case the accuracy of the identification of the “Yekaterinburg remains” was 99 and 29 of the ninth after the decimal point. After examinations conducted in 2015, genetic studies of the skulls of Nicholas and Alexandra, the uniform of Alexander II, covered with blood, strands of hair, the mother of Nicholas II, Maria Feodorovna, the opening of the burial of Alexander III, she still grew millions of times.
Tell me who, where and when and even conducted such identification? The probability of random coincidence in the hundreds of millions of times greater than the number of people who have ever lived and will live in the future until the sun. You still need guys?
No, you can still, for example, explore all the living Romanovs. You can open the graves of all the dead Romanovs, starting from Mikhail Fedorovich or even earlier. Let’s also the English Royal family all open: they are close relatives of the Empress and the Emperor!..
— Well, so far the plans of the investigation has not come. But it is assumed, for example, to make a 3D model of the hat, which was on the head of Nicholas at the time of his injury in Japan and which is now kept in the Hermitage, in order to match the damage on her with the residue found on the skull.
— Yes, we researched this hat! The examination was conducted by Sergey Nikitin (medical examiner, one of the most authoritative Russian experts on identification. A. K.) in 2008. Overlay the hat on the skull clearly showed where were these injuries as they happened. All this is in the case materials. Good, normal pictures.
Well, you can of course make a 3D model of a hat. You can make a 4D model. You can go to Mars from there to look at the scene… anything can be done. But, I repeat, all this is beyond reasonable tostatusnosti. Data for the reconstruction of the government working group had in abundance. Actually, already in 2008, we had redundant information in order to solve the issue of the burial of Alexei and Maria.
Than you in this case explain that the issue is not solved?
— Only political reasons. Associated with the position of the Russian Orthodox Church. Anything else is impossible to explain.
— Perhaps the most compelling argument from the Arsenal of Molodtsovo something that the small volume of the remains of Alexei and Maria, discovered in 2007, suggests that there was not one, but several of the sites. Which yet remain undiscovered.
Is actually the version of Professor Zvyagin: on arrival teams Jurowski in Porosenkov log the bodies of Alexei and Maria were chopped, burned and buried in different places. And, accordingly, the burial, discovered in 2007, only one of the “sampocak”. But I believe that it is absolutely wrong opinion. All historical documents and the Yurovsky note, and his speeches, and memoirs of other participants of the event, and those who burned, — saying that there was one burial of Alexei and Maria. And this is confirmed by excavations: the grave pit made exactly as it is described in the memoirs. Therefore, further search is useless. Other graves, I’m sure it’s not.
However, if there is such a version — please search. You will find some bone — well, put it to the rest of the bones. No technical difficulties with it will not.
— But in fact mystery: at the conclusion of judicial physicians, the ash remaining from burning of bodies of Alexei and Maria must be in the amount of 3.4 kg…
— In principle, even more had to stay. Because this calculation was based on the combustion in the furnace, and then a combustion with a much lower temperature.
was Found slightly more than one hundred grams. Do you have an explanation?
— I stick to the version, which was presented by Sergey Nikitin. Body burned for a long time, two or three hours, maybe more. Because of this, the ground under the fire pit compacted. Then in this compacted soil, they dug a shallow hole — were dumped unburned, are filled with sulfuric acid, buried, and lit the fire. Therefore, the partially burnt remains appeared to be sealed along with acid in the “vessel” of dense soil. And strongly heated sulphuric acid, which is much more aggressive than cold, completed the destruction.
— For a whole variety of indirect evidence, the Church and the official investigation, now walking hand in hand, planning to still wrap it up to the present the anniversary of the shooting. Two years ago, in a century executions by the press Secretary to the Patriarch said: “We await the final conclusions, which are ZATit will be presented to the next bishops ‘Council”. And another Cathedral had to go through this, 2020.
Yes, I also had information that the case was ready for closing.
What’s the holdup? Maybe the rebellion of chiyoumen Sergius did not want to piss off his congregation and other religious radicals?
Yes, I think that’s one of the reasons. When in 1998 the decision was made about the burial of the Royal family, we — the Germans, Aksyuchits and I went to Patriarch Alexy. We had a long, two – or three-hour conversation. The Patriarch then was most afraid of the mood in society, the speeches that these people with poor brains, “activists” of the Church, standing on the verge of a split. Now the situation is even more complicated. To recognize the remains, it will cause a storm among this audience. But the blame for this situation first of all the Patriarchate.
this Whole story of Sergius — a story full of ineptitude of the leadership of the Church. How was it possible to give Ganina Pit (tract, where the bodies of the Romanovs and their servants were brought in after the execution and where, according to the version, which is still officially adhere to the Russian Orthodox Church, they were completely destroyed. A. K.) and all the interpretation that is associated with this place, at the mercy of the murderer and thief! Absolutely uneducated, aggressive…
as soon As he appeared there (Sergius was the organizer of the construction and first hegumen of the monastery of the Holy Royal Martyrs at Ganina Yama. A. K.), he started talking about ritual murder, that the king and his family killed “the Jew-masons”. Even then, had to be hard to stop his activities as an extremist. But he took a delegation, led tours and explained what had happened and who to blame. Been to Church in a long time, in fact, the main ideologue on these matters.
— I had to hear that Sergius “clearly” manifested itself during archaeological excavations at Ganina Yama.
— you are Absolutely right. Archaeological expedition worked at Ganina Yama from 1998 to 1999. It was headed by Alexander Nikolaevich Avdonin (one of the discoverers of the king’s remains. A. K.). Supervisor was Tatiana Panova, the former chief archaeologist of Moscow Kremlin. Was made many stunning discoveries. Has been found women’s jewelry, corset rings, a number of other items belonging to Romanov. Found, for example, the emerald.
And most importantly — was found by a bullet, as examination showed, from the same guns and bullets found in Porosencova the log. That is, these two places “connected”.
But in 1999, when it was decided to build the monastery, the conflict began with the Church. And 2000 excavations were finally stopped: was Sergius, and demanded from the scientists to get out. The responsibility for this lies, of course, not only Serge: it was the position of the Ekaterinburg episcopate. But ideological and political issues related to Ganina Yama, was decided, I repeat, he is.
After that, excavations were not carried out. During the construction of the monastery all cultural layers were destroyed using heavy equipment. And with them — the most important evidence of the death of the Royal family. All I’ve managed to find is now in the exhibition of the Yekaterinburg Museum of local lore: there is a special room devoted to the Romanovs. And, as far as I know, the Ekaterinburg authorities strongly encourages the congregation to visit him.
this is the whole hypocrisy of Church leadership. Crucified, even as they honor the Royal martyrs, and at the same time destroying things that belong to them.
the current investigation a lot more confidence in the Church than you do. According to Molodtsova, the remains of Alexei and Maria are stored in the Novospassky monastery. In fact, it has been known for a long time. But, perhaps for the first time made public.
then quite Frankly don’t understand how this could be. Why they are kept in the monastery? The Investigative Committee offers Luggage storage and material evidence, the protection of which the clock is provided by the police. There can be neither damage nor tampered with. And is there security in the Novospassky monastery? Who ever is responsible for the condition of the remains?
— In General, a fact, daring, to put it mildly, very surprised.
— of Course. There are many facts causing surprise.
