Evdokia Petrov and guards on the tarmac – newspaper photograph

A photograph of Evdokia Petrov being escorted to an aircraft by two diplomatic couriers.

Transcript

[Black and white photograph of Evdokia Petrov with her arms linked with two men, one on either side, captioned as follows:]

[Headline:] Struggle towards airliner

[Small text:] WITH TWO BURLY RUSSIANS with their arms linked through hers, Mrs Petrov is pushed towards the plane which took her from Sydney to Darwin last night. On the left is the courier, V. Karpinsky. On the right is the driver of the car which brought Mrs Petrov from Canberra.

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An urgent telegram sent to Prime Minister Menzies 20 April 1954. It seeks the release of Mrs Petrov, after her capture by Soviet Police on Australian soil.

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Memo to the Secretary of the Department of External Affairs, regarding thumbprinting in Papua New Guinea.

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Letter to Prime Minister Robert Menzies from Reverend IW Susemihl, expressing the parish's gratitude in offering Mrs Petrov the chance to remain in Australia.

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A request from the Chinese embassy to stop thumbprinting Chinese nationals in New Guinea.

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The rescue of Mrs Petrov – letter to Prime Minister Robert Menzies

This is a letter to Prime Minister Robert Menzies regarding the threat of Communism.

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Russians Vladimir and Evdokia Petrov after their defection to Australia

This black-and-white photograph was taken at the safe house in which the Petrovs were held following their defection to Australia.

Related themes

Theme

Evdokia Petrov being escorted to a waiting plane by diplomatic couriers

Cold War

The Cold War was a period of tension between the United States and the Soviet Union from 1945 to 1991. In Australia it was marked by political stand-offs, the space race, spy rings and defections.

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HRH Queen Elizabeth the 2nd and Sir Robert Menzies

Europe and the United Kingdom

Discover records about Australia’s relationships with European nations.