Explosive revelations continue to emerge about convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein following the release of case documents by the US Department of Justice. The American financier’s international connections appear to be in the spotlight once again, with new documents revealing Epstein’s desperate attempts to approach high-ranking Russian officials, including Vladimir Putin himself. Specifically, revealing emails show correspondence between the convicted financier and a network of contacts including diplomats, politicians and businessmen.
Epstein: Attempted to present himself as informal mediator between Russia and the West
More specifically, according to documents seen by CNN, in June 2018, Epstein attempted to open a communication channel with Sergey Lavrov through the then Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Thorbjørn Jagland.
In his email, Epstein recalled that he had regular communication with Russian UN Ambassador Vitaly Churkin, who had died suddenly in 2017, and emphasized that he “understood Trump” after their conversations. Jagland replied that he would relay the message to one of Lavrov’s associates.
The documents show that Epstein had been trying for years to present himself as an informal mediator between Russia and the West. As early as 2013, through Jagland, he tried to arrange a meeting with Putin in Sochi, presenting himself as an advisor with international influence.
In other communications, Epstein claimed he rejected a proposal to meet Putin on the sidelines of an economic forum in St. Petersburg, demanding “time and absolute privacy.”
The documents also include references to Epstein’s close relationship with Russian businessman Sergey Beliakov, a former executive with FSB ties and later an official at the Russian Direct Investment Fund. Epstein offered to help him professionally, while even asking him for “advice” in a blackmail case involving a Russian woman in New York.
Another incident connected to Russia is the financier’s relationship with Masha Drokova Bucher, a former member of pro-Putin youth organizations, who served as his informal representative after his 2008 conviction.
She has stated that she severed all ties with the Russian regime and denies accusations of Russian funding. According to information from the documents, Epstein traveled to Russia several times, including in 2002 with Ghislaine Maxwell.
