Tsar's slain relatives victims of political repressions - human rights activists

Russia's oldest human rights organization, Moscow Helsinki Group, has supported the House of Romanov's plans to seek rehabilitation of all members of the imperial family, who were executed by Bolsheviks after the revolution. "I do not see any reason for rejection. No doubt, they must be recognized as victims of political repressions," MHG chief Lyudmila Alexeyeva told Interfax.

Last Friday, the House of Romanovs applied to the Russian Prosecutor General's Office for the rehabilitation of the members of the emperor's family, including grand dukes and princes of imperial blood, who were executed by the Soviets.

"If Russia announced itself a successor to the Soviet Union, it must admit the crimes committed during the Soviet period," Alexeyeva said.

The lawyer for the House of Romanovs, German Lukyanov, told Interfax that the head of the House of Romanovs, Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna is seeking the rehabilitation of Grand Duke Mikhail Alexandrovich, who was executed in Perm on June 13, 1918, as well as Grand Duchess Yelizavetha Fyodorovna, Grand Duke Sergey Mikhailovich, princes of imperial blood Ioann, Konstantin and Igor, who were thrown into a mine in Alapayevsk on July 18, 1918.

On October 1, 2008, the Russian Supreme Court ruled on rehabilitation of last Russian emperor Nicholas II and members of his family.

Source: Interfax religion