Kompromat: A Ruthless and Effective Tool of Influence
“Kompromat” is a portmanteau of the Russian terms for “compromising” and “material”. The term “kompromat” is derived from the Russian language (компромат), an abbreviation of “compromising material” (компрометирующий материал, transliterated as komprometiruyushchy material). This tactic, deeply embedded in the fabric of political warfare, revolves around collecting, storing, trading, and deploying disparaging information about individuals. With roots tracing back to the Soviet Union era, kompromat has been meticulously refined over time, exerting influence across various domains: political, electoral, legal, professional, judicial, media, and business....