Tsar's murder not political: Supreme Court

The Russian Supreme Court has ruled that the country's last emperor, Nicholas II, and his family were not victims of political repression and their rights were not violated.

Judges said that while the execution of the Romanovs was a premeditated murder that had political motives, the royal family were not subject to politial suppression.

The ruling added that the Tsar's family could not be exonerated because they were never formally sentenced.

Investigators say that even though they found plenty of letters, cables and witness memoirs, the failed to discover court orders on the execution of the Romanovs.

Grand Duchess Maria Romanova, who lives in Spain, asked the Prosecutor General's Office in 2005 to clear her ancestors' name and acknowledge that they were victims of political repression.

Her lawyer says her client will challenge Thursday’s ruling.

Russia's last Tsar, Nicolas II, his wife, children and some of their retainers were shot dead in 1918 in the city of Ekaterinburg in the Urals following the Bolshevik revolution.