Question: who gave the order for the romanov family to be executed

title: Execution of the Romanov family
text: Over the years , a number of people claimed to be survivors of the ill - fated family . In May 1979 , the remains of most of the family and their retainers were found by amateur enthusiasts , who kept the discovery secret until the collapse of Communism . In July 1991 , the bodies of five family members ( the Tsar , Tsarina , and three of their daughters ) were exhumed . After forensic examination and DNA identification , the bodies were laid to rest with state honors in the St. Catherine Chapel of the Peter and Paul Cathedral in Saint Petersburg , where most other Russian monarchs since Peter the Great lie . Boris Yeltsin and his wife attended the funeral along with Romanov relations , including Prince Michael of Kent . The remaining two bodies of Tsesarevich Alexei and one of his sisters were discovered in 2007 .