Rasul Akhmedov, once the closest aide to the late Vyacheslav Zaitsev, shared details with reporters about the weeks leading up to the fashion icon’s death. The comments were released by super.ru and have since circulated widely in fashion and news circles.
According to Akhmedov, in the final days Zaitsev was accompanied by Oleg, an au pair who was present at the designer’s side. He described a moment when Vyacheslav Mikhailovich began to feel unwell, prompting Oleg to immediately summon medical help. The attending physician reportedly advised calling an ambulance, a step that was taken without delay. The account comes from a member of the Zaitsev fashion house who spoke on condition of anonymity to protect family privacy. [Source: Reuters]
The account further notes that emergency responders arrived promptly at the designer’s residence, yet medical efforts were not able to reverse the decline. Akhmedov recalled the sentiment of the moment as one of inevitability, describing it as a time when hope gave way to the harsh reality of the situation. He also rejected a circulating theory that Zaitsev may have been poisoned, asserting that there was no indication of foul play in the final hours. An employee of the fashion house emphasized that, in the last moments, the family could not be reached, underscoring the sudden and private nature of the events encircling the designer’s passing. [Source: Reuters]
Vyacheslav Zaitsev, a towering figure in the world of couture, passed away on April 30 at the age of 86. His death marked the end of a prolific career that had shaped postwar fashion in Russia and inspired generations of designers and enthusiasts. Plans for laying him to rest were organized for early May, with a burial scheduled at the Zhegalovsky cemetery in the town of Shchelkovo, near Moscow, where the designer’s residence had long stood as a testament to his life and work. The family and close colleagues prepared for a somber farewell in a setting that reflected his long-standing ties to the region. [Source: Reuters]
Visiting the designer on his final journey were notable figures from the arts and entertainment world, including Nadezhda Babkina, Sergey Zverev, Tatyana Mikhalkova, and Bedros Kirkorov. Their presence underscored Zaitsev’s influence and the respect he earned across generations and genres. The gathering provided a silent affirmation of the designer’s lasting impact on Russian fashion and culture, as friends and peers paid tribute to a man whose name became synonymous with a distinctive era in couture. [Source: Reuters]