Excavations underway for graves of Tsar Nicholas II’s brother and faithful British servant

An American-Russian team is digging at in the Perm region and are hoping to find the remains of Grand Duke Michael Alexandrovich, the younger brother of Tsar Nicholas II and his secretary Nicholas Johnson, who were killed by the Bolsheviks on 13 June 1918. It was in Michael’s favour that Nicholas abdicated that fateful March but Michael refused to accept if it was not the will of the people.

Michael had been arrested in March and the faithful Nicholas Johnson was with him throughout. After his murder, his morganatic wife Natalia Brasova received a telegram saying, “Our friend (Michael) and Johnny have vanished without a trace.”

If remains are discovered, they will be handed to the Russian Investigative Committee.