2003.12.11 Interfax: Gorbachev calls for rehabilitating royal family
Dec 11 2003 2:30PM
Gorbachev calls for rehabilitating royal family as victims of
political reprisal
MOSCOW. Dec 11 (Interfax) - Former president of the USSR Mikhail
Gorbachev believes that Russia's last emperor, Nicholas II, and his
family, who were executed under a decision from the Soviet
authorities, should be rehabilitated as soon as possible.
"I think we should do this now, when Russia marks the 10th anniversary
of its constitution and the world marks the 55th anniversary of
signing the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and
Fundamental Freedoms. This would be a highly moral act in full
compliance with our legislation," he told Interfax on Thursday.
The Archiepiscopal Assembly of the Russian Orthodox Church canonized
the royal family in August 2000 and made them new martyrs and
confessors, Gorbachev said.
"That decision was couched in words so sincere and kind that nobody,
be he or she religious or not, could remain indifferent," he said.
There are good legal reasons to rehabilitate Nicholas II and his
family, Gorbachev said.
"They were executed at a time when the Soviet authorities had ruled
that courts could not pronounce death sentences. Following his
abdication, Nicholas II was not facing any charges. Furthermore, when
they looked into the circumstances of the death of the royal family,
our agencies, in particular the Prosecutor General's Office, described
what the Soviet authorities had done as political reprisal," he said.
"Much has been done towards rehabilitating the royal family and the
commission reporting to the Russian president on the rehabilitation of
victims of political reprisal has submitted proposals to him,"
Gorbachev said.