1991

Boris Yeltsin authorized the scientific opening of the burial site.  “The pit had one dramatic revelation, which became apparent after three days of digging and preliminary assembling of the bones; these remains represented only nine skeletons, four male and five female.  Two members of the Imperial Family were missing.” Despite this mystery, on July 17, Governor Edward Rossel (Chairman of the Sverdlovsk Region Executive Committee) announced to the press the discovery of the bones which “in great probability” belonged to Nicholas II, his family and servants.