Kompromat

Kompromat
Russian компрома́т
Romanization kompromat
Literal meaning compromising materials

Kompromat (Russian: компромат, short for компрометирующий материал) is the Russian term for compromising materials about a politician or other public figure. Such materials can be used to create negative publicity, for blackmail, or for ensuring loyalty. Kompromat can be acquired from various security services, or outright forged, and then publicized by paying off a journalist.[1][2] Widespread use of kompromat has been one of the characteristic features of politics in Russia[3] and other post-Soviet states.[4][5]

One recent development has been the creation of specialized kompromat websites, most famously the Russian Компромат.Ru (compromat.ru), that will, for a fee of several hundred dollars, publish any piece of kompromat on anyone.[6] Consequently, such websites are occasionally temporarily blocked by Russian ISPs and their owners harassed by government agencies.[7]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Hoffman, David (2003). The Oligarchs: Wealth and Power in the New Russia. PublicAffairs. p. 272. ISBN 1-58648-202-5.
  2. ↑ Koltsova, Olessia (2006), News Media and Power in Russia, BASEES/Routledge series on Russian and East European Studies, Routledge, p. 108, ISBN 0-415-34515-4
  3. ↑ White, Stephen; McAllister, Ian (2006), "Politics and the Media in Post-Communist Russia", in Voltmer, Katrin, Mass Media and Political Communication in New Democracies (PDF), Routledge/ECPR studies in European political science, Routledge, pp. 225–226, ISBN 0-415-33779-8
  4. ↑ Wheatley, Jonathan (2005). Georgia from National Awakening to Rose Revolution: Delayed Transition in the Former Soviet Union. Ashgate Publishing. pp. 104–105. ISBN 0-7546-4503-7.
  5. ↑ Operation Smear Campaign, The Ukrainian Week (10 September 2013)
  6. ↑ Levine, Y. (2009-07-28). "Journalism Face-Off: Russian Shadiness vs. American "Objectivity"". The eXile.
  7. ↑ "Blogger Gorshkov Will Dish Dirt on Russian Politicians — for a Price". Wired Magazine. 2008-07-21.

External links

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