Originally conceived as a political manoeuvre to discredit the nation's communist history and ostentatiously atone for past sins, the ceremony was ultimately toned down as a result of the country's state of imminent bankruptcy. So intent was the government's desire to divert attention from the real issues plaguing the country that they insisted on staging the show despite raging controversy about the authenticity of the Romanovs' remains. While the Russian Orthodox Church has refused to accept a series of comprehensive genetic tests that scientists believe have conclusively proven the remains are genuine, workers and labour leaders vehemently protested the government's sponsorship of a burlesque and costly burial ceremony at a time of extreme economic duress for the majority of the Russian people.
Factories are closed.
People aren't getting their pay. Speaking at the memorial service, Yeltsin, who appeared appropriately doleful and solemn, tried hard to divest himself of the Soviet's revolutionary legacy by belatedly denouncing the Romanovs' execution some 80 years after the deed was done. Following a rather brilliant stage performance and confident of having skillfully deflected the Russian people's anger through his showmanship, Yeltsin embarked on his annual vacation at the chic northern lakeside resort of Suiskaya Chupa. Meanwhile, back in the real world, neophyte Prime Minister Sergei Kiriyenko Saturday ordered a three per cent tax increase on all import duties to replenish empty state coffers and boost ailing industries that have consistently failed to pay their workers' wages for months on end. Although the stock market has rebounded since news of the bail-out reassured investors who were still jittery after last month's crash, the situation remains highly critical.