Alexander II_ The Last Great Tsar - Edvard Radzinsky [185]
He did.
“In view of the advance of the enemy on Ekaterinburg and the Cheka’s discovery of a significant White Guard plot having as its purpose the abduction of the former tsar and his family stop the documents are in our hands, by resolution of the Reg[ional] Soviet Presidium Nicholas Romanov has been shot stop his family has been evacuated to a safe place. Because of this we have issued the following announcement: ‘In view of the advance of counterrevolutionary bands on the Red capital of the Urals and the possibility of the crowned hangman eluding the people’s justice (a plot has been uncovered involving White Guards attempting to abduct him and his family and compromising documents have been found) … the Regional Soviet Presidium, by the will of the revolution, has resolved to execute the former tsar Nicholas Romanov, guilty of innumerable bloody crimes.’
“After which we started to wait for an answer from Moscow. Steadying our breathing, we all leaned toward the emerging ribbon of Sverdlov’s reply: ‘Today I will report of your decision to the Presidium of the Central Executive Committee. There is no doubt that it will be approved. Notice about the execution must follow from the central authorities, refrain from publication until its receipt.’
“We breathed more freely, the issue of taking the law into our own hands could be considered exhausted.”
The day before, on July 17, at nine o’clock at night, the initiated members of the Ural Regional Soviet had sent the initiated in Moscow the following encoded telegram:
“Moscow, Kremlin, to Sovnarkom Secretary Gorbunov with return confirmation. Tell Sverdlov that the same fate has befallen the entire family as has its head. Officially the family will perish in the evacuation.”
This telegram was later seized by the White Guard at the Ekaterinburg telegraph office and decoded by the White Guard investigator, Sokolov.
July 18: Moscow, the Sovnarkom. In the evening Sverdlov appeared at a meeting of the Soviet of People’s Commissars, the Sovnarkom, which was under the chairmanship of Lenin. They heard the report of the people’s health commissar. Sverdlov sat down behind Lenin and whispered something in his ear. Lenin announced: “Comrade Sverdlov asks for the floor for an announcement out of turn.”
Sverdlov informed the Sovnarkom of all that had been officially transmitted from Ekaterinburg and of the fact that the tsar had been preparing to escape, that Nicholas had been shot and the family evacuated to a safe place, and so on.
An excerpt from Proceedings No. 1 of the Central Executive Committee meeting:
“Heard: Announcement about the execution of Nicholas Romanov (telegram from Ekaterinburg).
“Resolved: Upon discussion the following resolution was passed: The Central Executive Committee in the person of its Presidium approves the decision of the Ural Regional Soviet. Instructs Comrades Sverdlov, Sosnovsky, and Avanesov to compose an appropriate announcement for the press. Instructs the documents in the possession of the Central Executive Committee (diary, letters) be published. Instructs Comrade Sverdlov to form a special commission of inquiry.”
During the discussion Lenin was silent; then the meeting continued.
Attempts have been made to find in his silence Lenin’s condemnation of what had happened. Lenin could be accused of many things, but not of being able to keep silent when he disagreed with something.
On July 18 the sentries were posted around the Ipatiev house as before, and on that day two men were seen in town who then mysteriously disappeared—Commandant Yurovsky and Commissar Goloshchekin.
July 19: Ekaterinburg. In the morning Yurovsky finally returned to town. The fall of Ekaterinburg was expected from hour to hour, and Yurovsky was in a