Kompromat (Russian: компромат, IPA:[kəmprɐˈmat]ⓘ, short for "compromising material") is a 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.[1][2]
The word kompromat comes from компромат, short for компрометирующий материал (komprometiruyushchy material) "compromising material". Widespread use of kompromat has been one of the characteristic features of the politics of Russia,[3] as well as of other post-Soviet states.[4][5][6][7]
Etymology
The term kompromat is a borrowing of the Russian NKVD slang term компромат from the Stalin era, which is short for "compromising material" (komprometiruyushchy material). It refers to disparaging information that can be collected, stored, traded, or used strategically across all domains: political, electoral, legal, professional, judicial, media, and business. The origins of the term in Russian trace back to 1930s secret police jargon.[8]
Techniques and use
In the early days, kompromat featured doctored photographs, planted drugs, grainy videos of liaisons with prostitutes hired by the KGB, and a wide range of other primitive entrapment techniques. More contemporary forms of kompromat appear as a form of cybercrime.[9] One aspect of kompromat that stands the test of time is that the compromising information is often sexual in nature.[10]
The use of kompromat is part of the political culture in Russia, with many members of the business and political elite having collected and stored potentially compromising material on their political opponents.[11]Kompromat does not necessarily target individuals or groups, but rather collects information that could be useful at a later time.[12] Compromising videos are often produced long in advance of when leverage over people is needed.[13]
Opposition research is conducted in the U.S. to find compromising material on political opponents so that such material may be released to weaken those opponents. Some contend that Kompromat differs from opposition research, in that such information is used to exert influence over people rather than to simply win elections.[14] Nevertheless, compromising material uncovered by opposition research need not be used in only legal or ethical ways. It can be used to exert influence over Western leaders just as surely as it can be used to exert influence over Russian leaders.[15][16]
In April 2010, politician Ilya Yashin and comedian Victor Shenderovich were involved in a sex scandal with a woman claimed to have acted as a Kremlin honey trap to discredit opposition figures.[20] The video was released only two days before the wedding of Shenderovich's daughter.[13]
In cases of kompromat during the early 21st century, Russian operatives have been suspected or accused of placing child pornography on the personal computers of individuals they were attempting to discredit.[21][22] In 2015, the UK's Crown Prosecution Service announced that it would prosecute Vladimir Bukovsky for "prohibited images" found on his computer;[23] however, the case against Bukovsky was put on hold as investigators tried to determine whether the pornographic images were planted.[9] Bukovsky died in October 2019.[24]
Following a 2016 phone call between incoming-U.S. National Security Adviser Michael Flynn and Russian ambassador Sergey Kislyak, Flynn allegedly lied to the White House on the extent of those contacts placing him in a position vulnerable to blackmail. According to congressional testimony delivered by former Acting U.S. Attorney GeneralSally Yates, the Department of Justice believed that "General Flynn was compromised," and placed Flynn in "a situation where the national-security adviser essentially could be blackmailed by the Russians."[28][29]
^Maher, Richard (12 January 2017). "What is 'kompromat' and how does it work?". New Statesman. London: GlobalData. ISSN1364-7431. Retrieved 12 January 2017. Kompromat has become a part of the political culture in Russia. Nearly everyone within Russia's business and political elite has at one time or another collected and stored potentially compromising material on their political opponents for future use. Kompromat can be real or fabricated, and generally involves drugs, prostitutes, sexual escapades, sleazy business deals, illicit financial schemes, or embezzlement.
^Woolf, Christopher (11 January 2017). "Moscow's long history of gathering 'kompromat'". Minneapolis: Public Radio International. Retrieved 12 January 2017. 'Kompromat,' says David Filipov, 'means "compromising material" that can be used down the road as leverage over somebody. [...] 'This was something former KGB officers were telling us here,' adds Filipov, 'they're not necessarily targeting you. You show up and they say, let's just see what this guy does. So they'll record you, they'll do surveillance, see what you're up to. Some stuff gets in a file and maybe they can use it, maybe they can't use it.
^ abMyre, Greg (11 January 2017). "A Russian Word Americans Need To Know: 'Kompromat'". All Things Considered. Washington D.C.National Public Radio. A Russian Word Americans Need To Know: 'Kompromat'. Retrieved 29 January 2019. In other recent cases, Russian operatives have been suspected or accused of placing child pornography on the personal computers of individuals they were attempting to discredit. Russian Vladimir Bukovsky, 73, a longtime critic of Soviet and Russian leaders, now lives in Britain, where he faces charges related to child pornography. But the case was delayed while investigators checked to see whether the images on Bukovsky's computer were placed there by an outside party, The New York Times reported last month, citing other similar cases.
