Russia refuses to exonerate the Romanovs

MOSCOW, Nov. 8 (UPI) -- Russia's Supreme Court said it will not exonerate members of the Romanov royal family who were executed in 1918.

The ruling Thursday came in response to an appeal by Grand Duchess Maria Vladmirovna Romanova, Itar-Tass reported.

RIA Novosti said the Prosecutor General's Office has twice rejected demands that the family of the last tsar, Nicholas II, be recognized as victims of political repression.

Prosecutors said the killing of the Romanovs is considered to be abuse of office by regional authorities and that no formal decision was made to kill the Romanovs. The Russian Imperial House in exile insists the killings were a state-sponsored execution, RIA Novosti said.