[lordnacho]

> other organization with a dress code that requires a gun

Sounds a lot like organized crime, is it supposed to have that undertone?

[ordu]

Policemen wear guns, and it doesn't sound like an organized crime.

The root of the word "siloviki" is "sila", which means "force". And it is about using force in order to perform their job. Like policemen do. Or security guards. Or soldiers.

And it is not used to refer to crime activities. They also use force, but they are not "siloviki".

[cjmcqueen]

Force or power was how I see the translation. These are people using their force or power to their own agenda. It's a useful name IMHO

[sgt101]

In some places, in theory, the police use consent of the overwhelming majority to do their job.

[tenuousemphasis]

That is merely a pleasant sounding fiction perpetuated by those with wealth and power.

[IncRnd]

> Sounds a lot like organized crime, is it supposed to have that undertone?

As does "Department of Homeland Security". That was the first federal agency named that way, and prior to that people would have thought that sort of naming to be associated with the Stassi or a totalitarian regime. I suppose it is commonplace now.

[murderfs]

"Federal Bureau of Investigation" or "Secret Service" aren't particularly friendly sounding names either...

[hunterb123]

Friendly sounding to whom?

[xxs]

>is it supposed to have that undertone?

nope. the 2nd word means "structures" and it implies part of the state.

[hunterb123]

> other organization with a dress code that requires a gun

No, that sounds like any armed forces, police force, the secret service, etc.

[skrtskrt]

or mercenaries/"private security"

[fragmede]

Unconscious bias at work. Russians aren't mostly mobsters wearing Adidas track suits, despite what you see on TV and in movies.