"In a May 2013 email apparently sent to Israel's former Prime Minister Ehud Barak, Epstein writes that Jagland "is going to see putin in sochi" and had asked that Epstein make himself available for a meeting in June "to explain how russia can structure deals in order to encourage western investment," adding: "I never met him, wanted you to know.""
"It's clear that Epstein made several attempts to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the 2010s, including through his apparent relationship with former Norwegian Prime Minister Thorbjørn Jagland. In a 2018 email, Jagland appears to agree to suggest to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's assistant that he help arrange a meeting for Epstein. There's no evidence that Epstein ever met with Putin or Lavrov."
"In that same exchange, Epstein claims he'd previously been in touch with Vitaly Churkin, Russia's permanent representative to the UN from 2006 until his 2017 death. Churkin features several times in the files, including in 2016 texts in which Epstein agrees to provide "confidential" help to get Churkin's son a job in the U.S. Another influential Russian with whom Epstein appears to have corresponded was Sergey Belyakov, who served as Deputy Minister of Economic Development from 2012-14 and also studied at an academy for intelligence personnel."
Being named in the Epstein files does not by itself indicate wrongdoing. The release of the documents has prompted firings, resignations, and investigations across multiple countries. Observers expect further developments, and prosecutors who worked on Epstein's cases note extensive cultivation of influential contacts. Email exchanges show attempts to arrange high-level meetings in Russia and efforts to leverage intermediaries for access and deals. Files include offers of "confidential" assistance to secure jobs for associates' relatives and correspondences with figures tied to Russian politics and economic ministries.
Read at Axios
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