The Petrov affair

Question 1

Who were the Petrovs?

Answer 1

Russian spies in australia

Question 2

Vladimir Petrov

Answer 2

Spied for KGB (Russian spy agency) on ASIO (Australian spy agency)

Question 3

ASIO political asylum

Answer 3

Vladimir Petrov made contact with ASIO and offered to provide evidence of soviet espionage in exchange for political asylum and 5 000 pounds

Question 4

Define political asylum

Answer 4

The act in which protection, money, home and new identity is provided

Question 5

Consequences of the Petrov affair

Answer 5

• weakened soviet and Australian affairs
• increased the cold war paranoia
• the royal commission uncovered that there was no evidence of espionage from the soviet union
• It helped Menzies election and he won