"Party of crooks and thieves" (Russian: Партия жуликов и воров – Partiya zhulikov i vorov, abbr. Russian: ПЖиВ – PZhiV[1]) is an expression widely circulating among opposition in Russia which is used to refer to the ruling United Russia party, led by Vladimir Putin. It was coined by blogger and anti-corruption activist Alexei Navalny in February 2011.[2][3]
Origin edit
In 2013 far-right politician Vladimir Zhirinovsky, speaking to Echo of Moscow, claimed to have used this expression in 2009.[4] In 2010 liberal politician Boris Nemtsov, speaking to Radio Liberty, described United Russia as "a party of thieves and corrupt officials".[5]
On February 2, 2011, in an interview with Finam FM radio station, blogger and anti-corruption activist Alexei Navalny responded to the question about United Russia:[6]
I think very poorly of United Russia. United Russia is the party of corruption, the party of crooks and thieves.[7]
The English translation "party of crooks and thieves" first appeared in an article of The New Yorker on April 4, 2011, by Russian-born American journalist Julia Ioffe.[7] The expression was also used by The Economist in October and December 2011.[8][9]
Usage edit
The slogan was widely used during the 2011 Russian legislative election campaign[10] by parties and individuals.[11]
Posters, banners, stickers were common during the protests in 2011 and 2012.
While reporting on the two sessions, i.e. National People's Congress and Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, CGTN Russian, a Russian-language Chinese media platform used the term in its video to introduce China's efforts to contain corruption.[12]
Public opinion edit
A Levada Center survey on July 19, 2011, revealed that 33% of Russians agree that United Russia is a "party of crooks and thieves", while 47% disagreed.[13] Another survey by the same center in June 2012 showed an increase in respondents agreeing with the characterization. Of the total, 47% agreed and 40% disagreed.[14] The latest survey was conducted in April 2013 by Levada Center. For the first time since 2011, it showed the majority of Russians (51%) agreeing with the phrase.[15] At the same poll, 62% of Russians said United Russia members are about "maintaining and strengthening their own power."[16]
In February 2011, Navalny created a poll in his LiveJournal blog in which around 38,000 people participated with over 96% agreeing with the characterization of United Russia as "party of crooks and thieves".[citation needed]
Reaction from United Russia edit
On October 11, 2011, the Lyublinsky District Court rejected the lawsuit of United Russia member Vladimir Svirid against Navalny.[17]
On November 24, 2011, during a debate on Russia-1 between United Russia and the Liberal Democratic Party, State Duma Member Alexander Khinshtein (a member of United Russia) stated:
United Russia works. It does everything to change the life [standards] in our country. They tell us about a "party of crooks and thieves." I will respond them. It is better to be in a "party of crooks and thieves" than in a "party of murderers, rapists and robbers."[18]
See also edit
References edit
External links edit
- Net Impact. One man’s cyber-crusade against Russian corruption. – The New Yorker, the first article about the popular expression in Western media