Grigori Yefimovich Rasputin was a controversial figure in early 20th-century Russia, often described as a mystic and spiritual advisor to Nicholas II, the last Tsar of Russia. His influence over the royal family, particularly due to his alleged ability to heal their son Alexei's hemophilia, made him a target for the aristocracy, who viewed him as a malevolent force weakening the monarchy's control. On December 30, 1916, a group of nobles, including the wealthy and influential Prince Felix Yusupov, plotted to assassinate Rasputin in an attempt to save the monarchy from what they perceived as a dangerous ally to the Tsar and Tsarina.

Yusupov and his co-conspirators invited Rasputin to his palace on the pretense of a social gathering. They prepared a feast laced with cyanide but were shocked when Rasputin showed no signs of distress. In a panic, they shot him multiple times. Believed to be dead, they left him in a basement. However, Rasputin miraculously awoke and attacked his assailants. The conspirators ultimately shot him several more times, beat him, and then wrapped his body in a carpet. They disposed of his remains in the Neva River, where his body was discovered a few days later, showing signs of having been tied and shot, which added to the intrigue surrounding his death.