The remains of Tsar Nicholas II and Empress Alexandra Fyodorovna have been authenticated by genetic analysis, the Investigative Committee's website reported Wednesday.
DNA samples taken from the bones of Nicholas II have matched with samples taken a blood-stained shirt of Russia’s last tsar.
Alexandra's DNA samples contained the mutations specific to those found in descendents of Britain's Queen Victoria. Alexandra was Victoria's granddaughter, and the genetic analysis confirmed the bone's attribution to the Russian empress.
Analysis was conducted by scientists from Moscow State University and the Vavilov Institute of General Genetics.
After being rounded up and killed in a basement by the Bolsheviks during fighting in the Civil War, the bodies of Russia's last tsar and his family were doused in acid and burned before being buried. Most of the remains were discovered in 1979, but the children Alexander and Maria were only unearthed in 2007.
The remains of the two children were due to be buried with the rest of the imperial family at St. Petersburg's Peter and Paul Cathedral, but the ceremony was delayed because the Orthodox Church insisted on additional research into their identity.
Therefore, on Sept. 23, the Investigative Committee reopened a criminal case into the deaths of Maria and Alexander, aiming to verify their identities. As part of the probe, Nicholas II and his wife were exhumed in the presence of senior Orthodox officials in St. Petersburg.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.