In his autobiography published in Russia in 2017, Gorbachev wrote: “My mother was Ukrainian. My wife, Raisa, was also Ukrainian. This is an issue that should not be handled as propaganda.

It was the first time since the death of Soviet founder Vladimir Lenin that the wife of a Soviet leader had played such a public role, and many Russians found Raisa Gorbachev showy and arrogant.

Ms. Monkman’s knowledge made her a go-to guide for important guests, including Raisa Gorbachev, the wife of Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, who toured the residence accompanied by first lady ...

Yudashkin is famous for wowing Paris Fashion Week with his Faberge collection in 1991, and clothing former Soviet first lady Raisa Gorbachev. But his Paris show was cancelled last year after he ...