Party of crooks and thieves

Party of crooks and thieves (Russian: Партия жуликов и воров – Partiya zhulikov i vorov, abbr. Russian: ПЖиВ – PZhiV[1]) is a popular[2] expression among the opposition in Russia used to refer to the ruling United Russia party, led by Dmitry Medvedev and Vladimir Putin. It was coined by blogger and anti-corruption activist Alexei Navalny[3] in February 2011.[4]

A poster that won the Navalny contest "Against the party of crooks and thieves"
A sticker in Moscow prior to the December 5, 2011 protests reads "Against the party of crooks and thieves" Anti-government protests in Moscow, December 10, 2011. The poster in the foreground reads "Party of crooks and thieves go away!"
"Down with the power of crooks and thieves!"

Origin

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:[5]

I think very poorly of United Russia. United Russia is the party of corruption, the party of crooks and thieves.[6]

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.[6]

Usage

The slogan was widely used during the 2011 Russian legislative election campaign[7] by parties and individuals.[8]

Posters, banners, stickers were common during the protests in 2011 and 2012.

Public opinion

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.[9] 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.[10] 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.[11] At the same poll, 62% of Russian said United Russia members are about "maintaining and strengthening their own power."[12]

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".

Reaction from United Russia

On October 11, 2011 the Lyublinsky District Court rejected the lawsuit of United Russia member Vladimir Svirid against Navalny.[13]

On November 24, 2011 during a debate on Russia-1, 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."[14]

See also

References
  1. "Большинство тех, кто голосовал против ПЖиВ, не читали Навального, не ужасались происшествию на Ленинском проспекте. У каждого из них случился какой-то свой персональный Ленинский проспект". Novaya Gazeta. 6 December 2011. Retrieved 19 July 2013.
  6. Ioffe, Julia (4 April 2011). "Net Impact: One man's cyber-crusade against Russian corruption". The New Yorker. Retrieved 19 July 2013.
  7. Judah, Ben (2013). Fragile Empire: How Russia Fell In and Out of Love with Vladimir Putin. Yale University Press. p. 222. ISBN 9780300181210.
  9. 19.07.2011. Левада-центр. О партии «Единая Россия»
  10. Левада Центр «Единая Россия» не может избавиться от ярлыка «Партией жуликов и воров» её считают все больше россиян Archived 2014-11-08 at the Wayback Machine, [Левада-Центр], 04.07.2012
  12. Khazan, Olga (29 April 2013). "More Than Half of Russians Say Putin's Party Are 'Crooks and Thieves'". The Atlantic. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
  13. «Партия жуликов и воров» легализована (in Russian). Gazeta.ru. 11 October 2011. Archived from the original on 3 January 2012. Retrieved 13 October 2011.
  14. «Партия жуликов и воров» схлестнулась в прямом эфире с «Партией убийц и насильников». Жириновский двум уральским единороссам из ФСБ: «Нам с вами срать на одном поле противно» // УРА.ru: 25.11.2011
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