The Petrov Affair – Reds under the Bed!
BY CALLUM WOOD
As the Cold War was raging on in Europe and the Americas, a new front was rapidly advancing within Australia – espionage. The Petrov Affair was the highly controversial defection of Evdokia and Vladimir Petrov, a spy duo designed to conduct key operations in the Soviet Embassy of the Australian capital city.
Background Story
The Petrovs were two Soviet Intelligence operatives Vladimir Petrov and Evdokia Petrov. Both the Petrovs had specialised training in cyphering and code breaking, an asset to the Soviet regime of the 1940s and 1950s. In 1951, the Petrovs had earned the soviet government’s confidence and were soon ordered to the Soviet embassy in Australia. Their objective: to thwart …show more content…
She was quickly pursued by Soviet government officials and was hustled aboard a plane destined for Russia in order to face justice for her husband’s crimes. It was essential to the Australian government to keep Vladimir happy, so whilst Evdokia’s plane was refuelling in Darwin ASIO agents disarmed the Soviet officials and offered her asylum in Australia. Evdokia openly accepted this offer.
What caused the ‘Petrov affair’?
In 1954, unable to please the Soviet government, the Petrovs fell out of grace and were the targets of vengeful crusades led by their co-workers. Vladimir Petrov was the perfect target for ASIO agent Dr Michael Bialoguski, so Bialoguski orchestrated a trusting friendship with Petrov and cleverly planted a seed of hope. This resulted in the unsuspecting Petrov disclosing his predicament to the very eager agent. Bialoguski took the information and told his supervisors at ASIO, insinuating that Petrov may want to defect from the Soviet Union.
Thirsty for documents and information on the Communist movement; ASIO followed this up and offered a set of terms to Petrov. Yearning for asylum, Petrov accepted the conditions and was granted what he desired. As a result, the Petrovs assisted in identifying at least 500 Soviet agents.
What are the implications of The ‘Petrov
BY CALLUM WOOD
As the Cold War was raging on in Europe and the Americas, a new front was rapidly advancing within Australia – espionage. The Petrov Affair was the highly controversial defection of Evdokia and Vladimir Petrov, a spy duo designed to conduct key operations in the Soviet Embassy of the Australian capital city.
Background Story
The Petrovs were two Soviet Intelligence operatives Vladimir Petrov and Evdokia Petrov. Both the Petrovs had specialised training in cyphering and code breaking, an asset to the Soviet regime of the 1940s and 1950s. In 1951, the Petrovs had earned the soviet government’s confidence and were soon ordered to the Soviet embassy in Australia. Their objective: to thwart …show more content…
She was quickly pursued by Soviet government officials and was hustled aboard a plane destined for Russia in order to face justice for her husband’s crimes. It was essential to the Australian government to keep Vladimir happy, so whilst Evdokia’s plane was refuelling in Darwin ASIO agents disarmed the Soviet officials and offered her asylum in Australia. Evdokia openly accepted this offer.
What caused the ‘Petrov affair’?
In 1954, unable to please the Soviet government, the Petrovs fell out of grace and were the targets of vengeful crusades led by their co-workers. Vladimir Petrov was the perfect target for ASIO agent Dr Michael Bialoguski, so Bialoguski orchestrated a trusting friendship with Petrov and cleverly planted a seed of hope. This resulted in the unsuspecting Petrov disclosing his predicament to the very eager agent. Bialoguski took the information and told his supervisors at ASIO, insinuating that Petrov may want to defect from the Soviet Union.
Thirsty for documents and information on the Communist movement; ASIO followed this up and offered a set of terms to Petrov. Yearning for asylum, Petrov accepted the conditions and was granted what he desired. As a result, the Petrovs assisted in identifying at least 500 Soviet agents.
What are the implications of The ‘Petrov