In Russian culture, kompromat (Russian: компрома́т), short for “compromising material” (Russian: компромети́рующий материа́л, romanized: komprometiruyushchy material), 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.
From Wikipedia:
In Russian culture, kompromat (Russian: компрома́т), short for “compromising material” (Russian: компромети́рующий материа́л, romanized: komprometiruyushchy material), 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.