Viktor Petrov: Soviet friend and unprecedented solidarity movement with Vietnam

In the memory of Mr. Viktor Alekseevich Petrov, former member of the Asia-Africa Solidarity Committee and the Soviet Committee for Supporting Vietnam under the Communist Party of the Soviet Union from 1973 to 1991, the solidarity movement with the Vietnamese people in the Soviet Union and around the world was “unprecedented”. From the days of boiling anti-war protests until now, at the age of over 80, he still retains his loyal feelings for Vietnam.

Flame of Unity from Moscow

In a conversation with a Vietnamese reporter, Mr. Viktor Alekseevich Petrov could not hide his pride when recalling the days when the entire Soviet Union turned to Vietnam. He said: "Every Soviet citizen, first of all Communist Party members, every morning when they wake up, they must think about what they need to do for Vietnam and what more they need to do to support Vietnam," he quoted a slogan that was propagated by the Soviet Committee for Supporting Vietnam at that time.

Mr. Viktor Alekseevich Petrov during his visit to Vietnam to attend activities commemorating the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Paris Agreement on ending the war and restoring peace in Vietnam. (Photo: Thu Ha)

The Soviet Committee for Supporting Vietnam was established in 1965. The idea of establishing the Committee was the initiative of famous social activists, artists, painters... of the Soviet Union and was supported by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union because after the Gulf of Tonkin incident, the US increased its attacks on the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. The main task of the Soviet Committee for Supporting Vietnam was to support the just struggle of the Vietnamese people in the international arena. Since its establishment, the Committee quickly became a large mass mobilization center. Workers in most enterprises, in some places up to hundreds of thousands of workers, voluntarily contributed a day's salary to the Vietnam Support Fund. Even the "Tien Phong Truth" newspaper, a Soviet children's newspaper with a daily circulation of 20 million copies, continuously called on children to donate to their Vietnamese friends.

Mr. Petrov said: Thanks to such huge amounts of money and material support for Vietnam, the Soviet Peace Fund sometimes sponsored up to 50 Vietnamese delegations each month, initially to the Soviet Union, then to Europe and other countries in the world to express and promote Vietnam's viewpoint. His Soviet Committee for Supporting Vietnam also supported large mass movements supporting Vietnam in the world such as the movement supporting Vietnam in France, which resulted in the formation of the Versailles Conference in support of Vietnam; the movement in Sweden under the leadership of lawyer and parliamentarian Hans Göran Franck, which established a court to discuss US crimes in Vietnam. Mr. Petrov said the Soviet Committee for Supporting Vietnam also invited American soldiers who deserted in Vietnam to Moscow to discuss the crimes of US imperialism in Vietnam and later in European countries.

"I have participated in many international support movements, but the scale for Vietnam is unprecedented. It is a huge movement that spreads all over the world," he said.

Explaining this, Mr. Petrov said that at that time, the Soviet people were the ones who had just suffered the greatest losses and casualties in the Great Patriotic War, so they understood the difficulties and sacrifices when the war took place in Vietnam. They felt with all their hearts the just struggle of the Vietnamese people against the American invasion. "This was the source of great spiritual, moral and political strength of the Soviet people related to the events in Vietnam," Mr. Petrov said.

Deep impression

In Mr. Petrov's memory, the image of Ms. Nguyen Thi Binh, former Minister of Foreign Affairs, former Head of the Negotiation Delegation of the Provisional Revolutionary Government of the Republic of South Vietnam, is the most profound impression.

Mr. Viktor Alekseevich Petrov (fifth from left) was awarded the Medal "For Peace and Friendship among Nations" - the most noble award of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations, January 2023. (Photo: Thu Ha)

Graduated from the Moscow State Pedagogical University of Foreign Languages in the Soviet era (now the Moscow State Linguistic University - MGLU), from 1973, Petrov was assigned to accompany Mrs. Nguyen Thi Binh on many business trips to Moscow. She often called him by the intimate name "Viktor". Mr. Petrov accompanied her to meet with Soviet leaders, attend speeches at Moscow State University, the Taman Tank Division barracks or the famous Kremlin Military School.

Recalling those days, he shared: “People were very impressed with her mind, intelligence and understanding in her work (...) She was a great woman, and I still keep the best feelings about her." Not only did he admire her intelligence, ingenuity and courage as a diplomat, he also saw in her "a surprising combination of femininity and the fighting spirit of a soldier".

Mr. Petrov also expressed his honor to have the opportunity to meet two of the greatest women of Vietnam. In addition to Ms. Nguyen Thi Binh, he also worked with female general Nguyen Thi Dinh during her visit to the Soviet Union. "I have a warm feeling, special respect for the great women of Vietnam," he expressed.

Vietnam has had miraculous changes.

Speaking to Thoi Dai magazine while visiting Vietnam to attend activities commemorating the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Paris Agreement on ending the war and restoring peace in Vietnam, Mr. Petrov commented that Vietnam has undergone miraculous changes.

"If you were in Vietnam at the time of the signing of the Paris Agreement and experienced life today, you would see how miraculous the change in your country is.

I have been to Vietnam many times. Once when the war was still fierce, once to attend the 40th anniversary of the signing of the Paris Agreement and this time on the 50th anniversary. Every time I return, I am amazed at the rapid changes in your country. From changes that can be seen with the naked eye such as modern cities and skyscrapers replacing the images of houses, villages, and streets that were ruined and desolate during the war, to changes that are more fundamental and sustainable. Your country is increasingly developing and becoming more beautiful with impressive achievements in economy and society. People's lives are improving, becoming prosperous, free, and happy.

We cherish the affection Vietnam has for the former Soviet Union and the Russian Federation today. We are also proud and honored to always stand shoulder to shoulder with the destiny of Vietnam. A special friendship, deeply loyal and attached between the people of the two countries from the past to the present and will continue to grow stronger and stronger."

Source: https://thoidai.com.vn/viktor-petrov-nguoi-ban-xo-viet-va-phong-trao-doan-ket-chua-tung-co-voi-viet-nam-215693.html