Video RUSSIA: RAISA GORBACHEV FUNERAL (V)

Voice and effects

VOICED BY KATHERINE BONNER


A bereft Mikhail Gorbachev buried his wife Raisa on Thursday at a fittingly

stylish but simple funeral attended by many foreign and Russian dignitaries.


The Gorbachevs had been together for more than 40 years - their relationship and Raisa's elegance becoming enduring symbols of the reforms the Kremlin chief introduced in the late 1980s.


VOICE OVER:


00 02 A photo of Raisa Gorbachev and a wreath from President Boris Yeltsin led the solemn procession into Russia's most historic cemetery.


00 10 Hundreds of ordinary Russians gathered outside the cemetery for a glimpse of the funeral cortege.


00 16 Mikhail Gorbachev, his daughter and two granddaughters walked behind the open coffin as it was carried to through the cemetery.


00 24 Grieving friends and relatives offered their condolences to the former president.


00 28 He was clearly worn down by the ordeal of sitting with his wife for two months in a German clinic as she lost her battle against the blood disease.


00 38 His final farewell to her was a poignant moment...


Their marriage was legendary and they were inseparable throughout their forty six years together.


00 51 Their only daughter Irinia was deeply moved by her mother's death.


A sentiment shared by many.


00 58 But that wasn't always the case.


Raisa Gorbachev was sharply criticised by ordinary Russians for her flamboyant dress sense and high public profile.


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01 09 But their view of her changed when she was admitted to hospital in July after contracting a rare form of leukemia.


The Gorbachevs were then inundated with letters offering support, advice and money.


01 21 When she died, world leaders joined Russian mourners in offering their condolences to the Gorbachevs.


They included U-S President Bill Clinton, French President Jacques Chirac and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder.


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