Nataly Viko was born in London. She graduated from the Moscow State Historical Archive Institute. She earned her PhD, focusing on pre-revolutionary Russian history. She earned her second degree from the Institute of Practical Oriental Studies.

Ms. Viko worked at the Soviet Encyclopedia Publishing, the USSR Education Ministry research center, the USSR Ministry of Culture, and the Institute of Oriental Studies at the Russian Academy of Sciences. She is a member of the International PEN Club (PEN International), Russian PEN Center, Russian Geographic Society; the International Federation of Russian Speaking Writers (London) and so on.