by Ioannesfrobenius, froebelgalleries, ©2025
(Jun. 7, 2025) — Although this author had received the link to this documentary some months ago, it was only in June 2025 that there was an opportunity to view it. The link for viewers is: https://app.frame.io/presentations/507c275d-4135-4d6a-90fc-ec5c66aa9a9e
For over twenty years, this author has investigated the case of Anastasia claimant alias “Evgenia Smetisko” to try to understand her insistence in having been HIH Anastasia Nicholaevna Romanov, Grand Duchess of Russia. The journey, to date (as it is an ongoing process), is chronicled in GRAND DUCHESS ANASTASIA: STILL A MYSTERY? (Histria, 2023): histriabooks.com/product/grand-duchess-anastasia.
Beyond alias “Evgenia’s” unique qualities which seem to substantiate her claim to have been the youngest daughter and grand duchess of Russia of Tsarist Russia, other elements of history have always engaged the imagination of this author. For example, there is the allegation that there was a tunnel between the Ipatiev House, where the supposed murder of the family occurred in the night of 16/17 July, 1918, to the nearby British consulate. Had the story that they were taken to the cellar been a cover for a possible transfer to the consulate? Surely, the Bolsheviks would pacify Britain and Germany by saving the noble kin of their leaders by exiling them, while putting the “Romanov matter” to bed in Russia by claiming they were now relegated to the pages of history in their alleged demise.
Other reports from that evening, claim a train leaving the Ekaterinburg station was seen leaving the city headed for Perm. If a “normal” train, why were the curtains drawn? Who would be traveling to Perm in the middle of a July night?
Why, many weeks after the alleged murder, did the Bolsheviks bring a young girl to the prison cell in Perm of Princess Helena (Yelena), wife of Prince Ioann Konstantinovich Romanov, with the query, “Is this young lady Anastasia Romanov?” Savvily, Princess Helena denied that she was. Consider the timeline. If ALL the Romanovs were known by the Bolsheviks to be “dead,” why would the Bolsheviks then ask months later if a certain young lady were indeed Anastasia Romanov? There would have been no need. By applying Occam’s Razor, one easily assumes that Anastasia was NOT dead, or at least, her body was missing and there was doubt as to her true fate!
It was then with immense interest that this author sat down to view THE ROMANOV COUNTER INVESTIGATION, viewable at the link above. It is a co-production of the Salt Studio and Studio Mosfilm, with the participation of the Yeltsin Center (https://yeltsin.ru/)
It was a pleasure to find Prince Michael of Greece, a Romanov descendant, speaking fluent French, adding his insight to this thoughtful examination. He explains that there was much communication between the outside world and the imprisoned Imperial Family. He continues, however, that the entire scenario and allegations around the night of 16/17 July 1918 were “murky.”
Read the rest here.