Evdokia Petrova
Encyclopedia
Evdokia Alexeyevna Petrova (15th September, 1915–19 July 2002) was a Russia
n spy
in Australia
in the 1950s. She was the wife of Vladimir Petrov
, and came to national prominence during the Petrov Affair
.
She was born and raised in the Soviet Union
. She worked as a bureaucrat in the state run forced labor camps or gulag
s. In 1951 she was posted with her husband as a diplomat to Australia
, though her real work was as a spy, in the rank of captain, against the Australian government. In this capacity she provided clerical, cypher, and operational assistance to the Soviet embassy in Canberra
. Evdokia married Vladimir Petrov, now known as Sven Allyson.
With her husband she defected to Australia in 1954. This happened at Darwin Airport
, at the height of the Petrov Affair
. The Petrovs' memoirs of the episode were contained in their book "Empire of Fear", which was ghost-written by Michael Thwaites
.
To help protect their identities in Australia, the Petrovs took the names Sven and Maria Allyson. Although the press agreed not to identify them, they did not always observe this voluntary protection order. She became an Australian citizen in 1956. She found work as a typist for William Adams Tractors. Vladmir Petrov died in 1991, but she was not able to attend his funeral due to media attention.
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n spy
SPY
SPY is a three-letter acronym that may refer to:* SPY , ticker symbol for Standard & Poor's Depositary Receipts* SPY , a satirical monthly, trademarked all-caps* SPY , airport code for San Pédro, Côte d'Ivoire...
in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
in the 1950s. She was the wife of Vladimir Petrov
Vladimir Mikhaylovich Petrov (diplomat)
Vladimir Mikhaylovich Petrov was a member of the Soviet Union's clandestine services who became famous in 1954 for his defection to Australia.-Early life:...
, and came to national prominence during the Petrov Affair
Petrov Affair
The Petrov Affair was a dramatic Cold War spy incident in Australia in April 1954, concerning Vladimir Petrov, Third Secretary of the Soviet embassy in Canberra.- History :...
.
She was born and raised in the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
. She worked as a bureaucrat in the state run forced labor camps or gulag
Gulag
The Gulag was the government agency that administered the main Soviet forced labor camp systems. While the camps housed a wide range of convicts, from petty criminals to political prisoners, large numbers were convicted by simplified procedures, such as NKVD troikas and other instruments of...
s. In 1951 she was posted with her husband as a diplomat to Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, though her real work was as a spy, in the rank of captain, against the Australian government. In this capacity she provided clerical, cypher, and operational assistance to the Soviet embassy in Canberra
Canberra
Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
. Evdokia married Vladimir Petrov, now known as Sven Allyson.
With her husband she defected to Australia in 1954. This happened at Darwin Airport
Darwin International Airport
Darwin International Airport is the busiest airport serving the Northern Territory and the tenth busiest airport in Australia. It is the only airport serving Darwin....
, at the height of the Petrov Affair
Petrov Affair
The Petrov Affair was a dramatic Cold War spy incident in Australia in April 1954, concerning Vladimir Petrov, Third Secretary of the Soviet embassy in Canberra.- History :...
. The Petrovs' memoirs of the episode were contained in their book "Empire of Fear", which was ghost-written by Michael Thwaites
Michael Thwaites
Michael Rayner Thwaites, AO was an Australian academic, poet, intelligence officer, and activist for Moral Rearmament.-Early life and education:...
.
To help protect their identities in Australia, the Petrovs took the names Sven and Maria Allyson. Although the press agreed not to identify them, they did not always observe this voluntary protection order. She became an Australian citizen in 1956. She found work as a typist for William Adams Tractors. Vladmir Petrov died in 1991, but she was not able to attend his funeral due to media attention.
See also
- List of Eastern Bloc defectors