Nerses Ovsepian

[Phil_tomaselli]

Apparently a Soviet Agent named Nerses Ovsepian claimed in the 1930's to have been a witness to the execution of the IF at Ekaterinberg in 1918.  Before I waste valuable time trying to trace information on him has anyone ever come across him - is he worth the effort?

Phil Tomaselli

[Kimberly]

Hi Phil, well apparently he is "real" and was a OGPU agent who deserted to the West. His English fiancee would only marry him if he left espionage behind. His pseudonym was George Agebakov.

[Bev]

I know he was Armenian and joined the Cheka in 1920 and was apparently killed by the Soviets in 1937-8.  Brentanos thought he was fairly important as do Bunn and Rocca And Dziak (whom I think are pretty reliable) but the person I think would know more about him than anyone would be Stuart Finkel.  "The Foreign Intelligence Literary Scene" would probably have quite a bit of research on him or be able to point you in the right direction, but their publication is more wonkish than most humans can bear...(just kidding...sort of) I believe the editor is Marjorie Cline or she was, anyway.  They used to be on K Street in D.C.  Wish I could help you more.

[AGRBear]

Here is a brief sketch if this man:

http://www.mi5.gov.uk/output/Page530.html

[Phil_tomaselli]

I checked the MI5 file on Ovsepian and for all the publicity about his claim to have been involved in the murder of the IF this only comes down to a copy of a newspaper article from the "Daily Sketch" dated 26/01/32.

A few excerpts:

"He described the terrible night of July 17, 1918, when the whole family perished

"There is no doubt that they all lost their lives" he declared. "The Duchess Anastasia did not escape, I can assure you."

Using the name Georges Agebakoff he went on to say "I was at Ekaterinburg at that time and saw the whole terrible business"  He claimed that he served as an officer in the Imperial Army but already had Communist ideas and in 1916 he refused to return to the front.  He was sentenced to be shot but this was reduced to exile in Siberia because of his previous gallantry.

When the Revoluition broke out in 1917 I was liberated and appointed a Commissar of the People.  I arrived at Ekaterinburg soon after the transfer of the Tsar and his family there.  The Imperial Family was assassinated out of fear.

News had reached us that the White Army, under the command of Admiral Kolchak, was not far from Ekaterinburg.

The local Soviet tried to telephone to Moscow for instructions concerning the Tsar, but it was discovered that all telephone and telegraph wires had been cut.  There was a meeting and a tribunal decided that the Imperial Family had to die.

It has been rumoured several times that the Grand Duchess Anastasia escaped death and that she now lives in Germany under the name as Mrs Tchaikovsky, and that she has lost her memory since that horrible night.  I can assure you that the Grand Duchess Anastasia is dead.  She could not possibly have escaped.  The house was full of soldiers and the family was packed into a room before being shot.  I also affirm that the bodies were not burned as stated in several books.  They were thrown in disused pits more that two centuries old."


Not a lot but possibly worth some thought.

Phil Tomaselli

ps he had some interesting experiences with Albert Stopford after defecting to the West which I may post at some future point.

[AGRBear]

As usual,  will sit and wait  for the next interesting chapter which Phil always provides us.

AGRBear

[lexi4]

I checked the MI5 file on Ovsepian and for all the publicity about his claim to have been involved in the murder of the IF this only comes down to a copy of a newspaper article from the "Daily Sketch" dated 26/01/32.

A few excerpts:

"He described the terrible night of July 17, 1918, when the whole family perished

"There is no doubt that they all lost their lives" he declared. "The Duchess Anastasia did not escape, I can assure you."

Using the name Georges Agebakoff he went on to say "I was at Ekaterinburg at that time and saw the whole terrible business"  He claimed that he served as an officer in the Imperial Army but already had Communist ideas and in 1916 he refused to return to the front.  He was sentenced to be shot but this was reduced to exile in Siberia because of his previous gallantry.

When the Revoluition broke out in 1917 I was liberated and appointed a Commissar of the People.  I arrived at Ekaterinburg soon after the transfer of the Tsar and his family there.  The Imperial Family was assassinated out of fear.

News had reached us that the White Army, under the command of Admiral Kolchak, was not far from Ekaterinburg.

The local Soviet tried to telephone to Moscow for instructions concerning the Tsar, but it was discovered that all telephone and telegraph wires had been cut.  There was a meeting and a tribunal decided that the Imperial Family had to die.

It has been rumoured several times that the Grand Duchess Anastasia escaped death and that she now lives in Germany under the name as Mrs Tchaikovsky, and that she has lost her memory since that horrible night.  I can assure you that the Grand Duchess Anastasia is dead.  She could not possibly have escaped.  The house was full of soldiers and the family was packed into a room before being shot.  I also affirm that the bodies were not burned as stated in several books.  They were thrown in disused pits more that two centuries old."


Not a lot but possibly worth some thought.

Phil Tomaselli

ps he had some interesting experiences with Albert Stopford after defecting to the West which I may post at some future point.

Is there any evidence that he was actually there that night?