zinoviev-letterhttp://www.oed.com/dictionary/zinoviev-letter_n%3Ftab%3Dmeaning_and_useZinoviev letter, n.
Revised 2021

Zinoviev letternoun

  1. 1924–
    A leaked letter published by the British Daily Mail on 25th October 1924 ostensibly from Grigori Zinoviev, president of the Communist International, urging the Communist Party of Great Britain to commit acts of treason.
    The letter is believed to be a forgery designed to weaken support for the first Labour government shortly before the general election.
    1. 1924
      Rakovsky had sent a reply to the Foreign Office declaring that the Zinoviev letter was a forgery.
      Daily Mail 27 October 9/3
    2. 1979
      Mr Benn told a Bristol audience that the Tories..were dragging out the old Zinoviev Letter technique.
      Guardian 28 April 32/8
    3. 1998
      Reports stated that the Zinoviev letter had been forged in Riga..by a White Russian..who was in touch with the British secret service.
      Birmingham Post (Nexis) 13 February 6

Zinoviev letter, n. was revised in March 2021.

Zinoviev letter, n. was last modified in July 2023.