More on the case of Prof. V. P. Petrov In. Svoboda, 1958, 13th August, pp. 2, 4.

This article is a thematic follow-up to the author’s piece «The Case of Prof. V. P. Petrov», published in the newspaper «Svoboda» in 1956. The author continues his discussion of various hypotheses regarding the fate of Viktor Petrov following his disappearance in 1949.

The author argues that the objections raised by Miller’s opponents regarding his assumption that Petrov was in the USSR, based on a reference in Monhait’s collection, are unfounded. In his view, the name index in which Petrov appears contained information about active Soviet historians and archaeologists. At the same time, scholars who were in exile or had been declared «bourgeois» were omitted from it. This indicates Petrov’s active archaeological work in the USSR.

Furthermore, the author presents an additional argument in favour of the version regarding Petrov’s presence in the USSR. This refers to the bibliographical section of Ivan Shovkoplias’s work «Archaeological Research in Ukraine (1917–1957). A Review of the Study of Archaeological Monuments». It mentions four of Petrov’s works, two of which were published after his disappearance – in 1955 and 1957. On the basis of these facts, the author concurs with Miller’s position, believing that Petrov lived and continued to work as an archaeologist in the USSR.

At the same time, the author emphasises that the evidence cited does not explain the circumstances of Petrov’s disappearance in 1949 nor shed light on the question of his possible espionage activities during his period of emigration.