Kumbum Monastery
Pankratov was reportedly quite secretive about his exact activities while living in China, leading to speculation that he was involved in espionage. Various people who knew Pankratov in the 1970s tell a story that he once visited Kumbum Monastery dressed in a monk's robe, carrying a revolver underneath. V. M. Alekseyev claimed that once, when he and Pankratov were eating breakfast at Alexander von Staël-Holstein's house, Pankratov identified himself as serving in the State Political Directorate. One later scholar suggests he may have played some role in Nicholas Roerich's schemes to increase Soviet influence in Tibet, perhaps as a liaison with the Panchen Lama. His former student, Yuri L'vovich Krol', even confirms that Pankratov met with Roerich.