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Kompromat

In Russian culture, kompromat (Russian: компромат), short for "compromising material" (компрометирующий материал), is damaging information about a politician, a businessperson, or other public figure, which may be used to create negative publicity, as well as for blackmail, often to exert influence rather than monetary gain, and extortion. Kompromat may be acquired from various security services, or outright forged, and then publicized by use of a public relations official. Widespread use of kompromat has been one of the characteristic features of the politics of Russia and other post-Soviet states.The term, always transliterated from Russian with the spelling "kompromat", is used in English, often related to Russian or Soviet use but also for compromising ma… more »