Mazhory (roughly meaning "the upper ones", from French majeurs) is a slang term used in the Soviet Union and post-Soviet countries for children of privileged people, who take advantage of their inborn privileges (nepotism, cronyism, avoiding due punishment, etc.), often in an arrogant and abusive way.
Meaning Ukraine
The term Mazhory () is used to describe children of high-ranking, mid-ranking, and sometimes even seemingly low-ranking officials in the government, police force, judiciary or army.Charges dismissed against driver who killed pedestrian, Kyiv Post (1 December 2011) Обережно, діти! Як завершились найгучніші "мажорні" аварії і що з ними робити, Ukrayinska Pravda (3 November 2021) Мажори активізувалися у літній період, Ukrainskyi Tyzhden (12 July 2011) Безкарна справа. Думки з приводу роковин загибелі Ігоря Індила, Ukrayinska Pravda (23 May 2011) У Запоріжжі "мажор" розстріляв двох чоловіків, Ukrayinska Pravda (6 July 2009) "Мажор", який ганяв по Києву з ножем, каже, що нарвався на "джигітів", Ukrayinska Pravda (14 July 2009) П'яний "мажор" у Нових Петрівцях збив студентів, машину ДАІ та трактор, Ukrayinska Pravda (16 September 2010) "Мажор", який спровокував смертельне ДТП, бере участь в автоперегонах, Ukrayinska Pravda (5 July 2011) Закони здорового глузду, Ukrayinska Pravda (13 July 2011) This term is also used to describe officials themselves as well as wealthy businessmen and their children. They are seen to lead easier lives than normal people, due to their parents' influence. Often they are able to avoid punishment, or receive less severe punishments than usual, when committing crimes.Gang-raped, strangled and set alight, brave Oksana loses her fight, The Age (30 March 2012)Unruly Untouchables, Kyiv Post (14 July 2011)Charges dismissed against driver who killed pedestrian, Kyiv Post (1 December 2011) This phenomenon is also known in other countries of the former Soviet Union.Ukraine rape victim searches for justice, guardian.co.uk (23 March 2012)
Russia In Russia the term Mazhory () is connected with young socialites rather than with abuse of power; Как отрывается "золотая молодежь", Komsomolskaya Pravda (1 April 2004) Мажоры берутся за ум, RUSSIA.RU (20 October 2010) but the term is also connected with criminal misdemeanour of advantaged youth."Золотая молодежь", гоняющая на автомобилях с риском для нас, остается безнаказанной (7 April 2011)Поймаем тюменских отморозков вместе! (28 September 2010)Отец отомстил мажору за гибель дочери (24 June 2011)Насильники-мажоры повезли девушек на озеро в Боголюбово (23 January 2012)Мажоры на "Хаммере" задавили десятиклассника (25 August 2010)Уральские милиционеры подтвердили, что автохулиганы из Тюмени – "мальчики-мажоры (3 September 2010)Уральские мальчики-мажоры на "Лексусе" убили трех рыбаков на "Ниве" (12 August 2011)All articles by Komsomolskaya Pravda The term "" (Russian: Золотая молодёжь) is more commonly used in Russia to describe this advantaged youth.Traffic Cops Begin Crackdown on Moscow's 'Golden Youth', The Moscow Times (15 September 2016) Umayte Maru: how they want to punish Baghdasaryan and her like, RIA Novosti (11 July 2017)
Soviet Union In the Soviet Union the term Mazhory was connected with children of high-ranked officials who, through their parents, had greater access to Western products than the average young person and could travel abroad more easily.
See also Fresa (slang) Princelings, a term for the children of senior communists in China
Notes
References
External links Like fathers, like sons: Ukraine’s untouchables, Open Democracy