<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Jeffrey Epstein had a message he wanted to get to Russian President </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/vladimir-putin" rel="" target="_blank" title="Vladimir Putin"><span>Vladimir Putin</span></a><span>.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It was June 2018 – about a year after Russia's ambassador to the United Nations Vitaly Churkin had </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/russia-s-un-envoy-churkin-dies-unexpectedly-foreign-ministry/901bd95f-72f7-4164-a5fe-0da9a060c0e3" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><span>suddenly died</span></a><span>.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Churkin was someone Epstein met regularly in New York, according to new documents released by the Department of Justice. </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/jeffrey-epstein" rel="" target="_blank" title="Epstein"><span>Epstein</span></a><span> had even offered to help Churkin's son, Maxim get a job at a wealth management firm in New York.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/cyclone-mitchell-forecast-campsite-mines-evacuated-as-cyclone-approaches-coast/dc27c584-7921-45ef-a0fa-e010244f5868" rel="" target="_blank" title="Towns braced for landfall as Cyclone Mitchell moves south"><strong><span>Towns braced for landfall as Cyclone Mitchell moves south</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Now Epstein was looking to talk with a different </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/russia" rel="" target="_blank" title="Russian"><span>Russian</span></a><span> official: Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>On June 24, 2018, Epstein emailed Norwegian politician Thorbjorn Jagland, then the secretary general of the Council of Europe: "I think you might suggest to putin, that lavrov, can get insight on talking to me. vitaly churkin used (to) but he died. ?!"</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Jagland answered that he would meet Lavrov's assistant the following Monday and suggest it.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/world/epstein-files-reveal-russia-connections-attempt-to-contact-vladimir-putin/237078e3-6e97-4c0a-a2a7-f383ebae9925" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Epstein replied: "churkin was great. he understood trump after [our] conversations. it is not complex. he must be seen to get something its that simple."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>While Epstein's interest in scouting models from Russia and other parts of Eastern Europe had previously come to light, the latest release of documents related to the disgraced financier offers new insight into his attempts to draw closer to high-ranking Russian officials, including Putin, who Epstein tried to meet or speak with multiple times.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The new tranche of documents showing more of Epstein's communications with international politicians, including Russian officials, has led to more speculation about the billionaire's motives.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said in a cabinet meeting this week that his country would launch an investigation into Epstein's possible ties with Russian intelligence.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/parkville-melbourne-road-rage-attack-e-scooter/b42a26ca-2212-4137-b021-a5369ab28cd5" rel="" target="_blank" title="Melbourne tradie left with serious injuries after road rage attack by e-scooter rider"><strong><span>Melbourne tradie left with serious injuries after road rage attack by e-scooter rider</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"More and more leads, more and more information, and more and more commentary in the global press all relate to the suspicion that this unprecedented pedophilia scandal was co-organised by Russian intelligence services," Tusk said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I don't need to tell you how serious the increasingly likely possibility that Russian intelligence services co-organised this operation is for the security of the Polish state.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"This can only mean that they also possess compromising materials against many leaders still active today."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The Kremlin dismissed suggestions that Epstein was a spy for Russia.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The theory that Epstein was controlled by Russian intelligence services can be taken in any way, but not seriously," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Peskov added that reporters should "not waste time" looking into allegations Epstein had links to Russian intelligence.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/south-australia-plane-crash-victims-pilot/74e4c924-8e5f-4e08-adfd-27c66e198f22" rel="" target="_blank" title="'Forever 20': Third victim of SA plane crash named as aspiring pilot"><strong><span>'Forever 20': Third victim of SA plane crash named as aspiring pilot</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Analysts cautioned to CNN that the documents suggest little more than Epstein trying to rub shoulders with influential figures and position himself as a sort of geopolitical power player.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The documents do not indicate whether Epstein ever succeeded in connecting with the Russian leader.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>On May 9, 2013, according to the documents, Epstein wrote to former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak that Jagland "is going to see putin in sochi " on May 20 and that Jagland asked if Epstein would make himself available to meet the Russian president "to explain how russia can structure deals in order to encourage western investment".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I never met him, wanted you to know," Epstein added in his email to Barak.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A few days later, Jagland told Epstein on May 14, 2013, that he planned to pass a message to Putin on Epstein's behalf that Epstein could be useful.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I have a friend that can help you to take the necessary measures (and then present you) and ask [whether] it is interesting for him to meet with you," Jagland wrote in an email to Epstein.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/kim-jong-un-north-korea-party-congress/70518244-330d-486d-a780-a01cca266684" rel="" target="_blank" title="Kim expected to issue major policy goals at North Korea party congress in late February"><strong><span>Kim expected to issue major policy goals at North Korea party congress in late February</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Epstein replied: "He is in a unique position to do something grand, like sputnik did for the space race, You can tell him that you and I are close , and that i advise </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/bill-gates-epstein-files-melinda-gates-responds-to-latest-mentions/3d89f996-5943-42d6-a0be-12e57c1e8cb0" rel="" target="_blank" title="Gates"><span>Gates</span></a><span> . this is confidential, . I would be happy to meet him , but for a minimum of two to three hours, not shorter."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Through a spokesperson, billionaire Bill Gates has publicly described meeting with Epstein as a "serious error in judgment" but </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/bill-gates-denies-accusations-in-jeffrey-epstein-files/e8478e3b-4e12-442c-a373-04d8e2142aa7" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><span>denied any improper conduct</span></a><span>.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>But in another email to Barak on May 21, 2013, Epstein claimed without providing evidence that he denied a request from Putin to meet during a Russian economic conference in St Peterburg.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Epstein said that if Putin wanted to meet him, he would "need to set aside real time and privacy." (It's unclear if Putin indeed ever requested to meet with Epstein.)</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>CNN has reached out to the Kremlin for comment on Epstein's correspondence with Barak.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>More than a year later, in July 2014, an email to Epstein suggests that he had an upcoming scheduled meeting with Putin and had invited the LinkedIn founder to join.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Joi Ito, then the director of the MIT Media Lab, wrote to Epstein, "I wasn't able to convince Reid to change his schedule to go to meet Putin with you. ;-)"</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Ito previously issued an apology for his association with Epstein and for accepting funding for the MIT Media Lab.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Some of Epstein's communications with prominent Russians came at a sensitive time in US-Russia relations – after the US intelligence community accused Russia of interfering in the 2016 presidential election, which Donald Trump won.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>In June 2018, Jagland emailed Epstein that he hoped to stay at his residence in Paris and that he would be coming from Moscow, where he planned to meet Putin, Lavrov and Dmitry Medvedev, then the prime minister of Russia.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"i m just sorry im not with you to meet the Russians," Epstein replied.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/israel-says-netanyahu-will-meet-with-trump-on-wednesday-about-iran-talks/70fc1a83-eb56-40b0-81e5-3e132b75f48a" rel="" target="_blank" title="Israel says Netanyahu will meet with Trump this week about Iran talks"><strong><span>Israel says Netanyahu will meet with Trump this week about Iran talks</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>On Thursday, Norway's investigative unit Okokrim announced it had opened an investigation into Jagland based on information in the Epstein documents.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>In a statement, Jagland's lawyer Anders Brosveet said his client would co-operate with the investigation and provide "key findings and the relevant documentation" to the agency.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Based on what we have uncovered so far, we remain confident about the outcome," Brosveet said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Jagland has denied any wrongdoing related to Epstein.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The documents suggest that Epstein had a close relationship with at least one Russian who had ties to the FSB – Russia's main security service and successor to the KGB.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Epstein referred to Sergey Belyakov, who Russian state news agency TASS said graduated from the FSB Academy in Moscow in 1999, as "my very good friend" in a 2015 email to billionaire venture capitalist Peter Thiel.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The documents show Epstein had offered to introduce him to Belyakov, who was running the St Petersburg Economic Forum Foundation at the time, responsible for organising Russia's largest economic conference.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>After attending the Sts Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) in 2015, Barak, the former Israeli prime minister, reported back to Epstein that he'd met several Russian officials, including Lavrov; the head of Russia's central bank, Elvira Nabiullina; and several other heads of Russian banks.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Thx for (setting) the whole thing together," Barak wrote in an email to Epstein.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Barak's office told CNN in a statement, the former Israeli prime minister's visits to SPIEF "were always under invitation" of Putin's office.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The statement said Epstein was interested in Russian affairs and in meeting Putin but Barak "never raised" Epstein's name with the Kremlin but "occasionally discussed" world affairs with him and "mentioned some people he met".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/police-granted-additional-powers-as-israeli-presidents-visit-declared-major-event/26567077-0fb5-4eff-b849-e320ac35e410" rel="" target="_blank" title="'Not business as usual': Police issue stark warning ahead of Israeli president's visit"><strong><span>'Not business as usual': Police issue stark warning ahead of Israeli president's visit</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>In a 2016 exchange between Belyakov and Epstein, Belyakov tells Epstein that he has started a new position with the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) – the country's sovereign wealth fund – and that he was looking to attract investment for Russian projects.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I will do anything [that] is helpful to you," Epstein wrote to Belyakov in another email later that same week.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Epstein had also turned to Belyakov for help at least once. In a 2015 correspondence, Epstein wrote to Belyakov that a Russian "girl" from Moscow was attempting to blackmail a "group of powerful" businessmen in New York and "it is bad for business for everyone involved." Epstein then told Belyakov when the woman arrived in New York and what hotel she was staying at, asking, "Suggestions?".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>CNN is attempting to contact Belyakov and has reached out to RDIF for comment.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Epstein also claimed to offer advice for Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska. In a 2018 email with Jide Zeitlin, the former CEO of Coach and a private investor, Zeitlin thanks Epstein for his "thoughts re Deripaska," who had been sanctioned by the US just a month earlier. Epstein then forwarded the correspondence to Steve Bannon, formerly Trump's chief strategist.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Just keeping you in the loop," Epstein wrote to Bannon.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>An email from November 2010 included in the files references an effort by someone claiming to be an assistant for Epstein attempting to set up a meeting between Epstein and someone referred to as "Oleg."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I'm writing to see what the possibilities are of =effrey and Oleg to meet in Moscow next week Tuesday or Wednesday? Or =ossibly Oleg has plans to be in Paris next week?" The person wrote. The names of both the sender and recipient are redacted in the released files.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/possible-coalition-reunion-expected-today-after-meeting-between-liberals-and-nationals/19093271-1d14-4542-958c-257c8f41852f" rel="" target="_blank" title="Coalition confirms it has reunited following bitter split over hate speech laws"><strong><span>Coalition confirms it has reunited following bitter split over hate speech laws</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It's unclear whether Epstein and Deripaska were ever in contact or ever met. Deripaska's spokesperson told Bloomberg he didn't personally know Epstein; CNN has reached out for a comment.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Another Russian in Epstein's orbit was Masha Drokova Bucher, a 37-year-old venture capitalist who was a publicist for Epstein in 2017, helping him in the wake of his 2008 conviction on solicitation of prostitution.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Bucher was known in Russia as a member of Nashi, a pro-Putin youth group, where she even got her own TV show. She was featured in a 2012 documentary about the movement called Putin's Kiss, a reference to a famous moment when she kissed Putin on the cheek.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Bucher has since said she left the movement and gave up her Russian citizenship in 2022 after the invasion of Ukraine.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>She and Epstein appeared to have a close relationship. In 2017, she asked Epstein in an email if he'd heard anything about potential sanctions on companies with research and development in Russia because it could affect "some good friends." He then told her he'd introduce her to Thiel.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Bucher later sent Epstein videos of her singing and told him she was "recharged" from not "doing any substances for a while." She credited Epstein for helping her establish her Day One Ventures fund in 2018.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/sydney-news-one-person-dead-multiple-hospitalised-after-medical-episode-at-techno-event/ec3f13d9-2313-4779-93e8-dadc8c94f2f8" rel="" target="_blank" title="Possible mass overdose investigated after man dies at Sydney rave"><strong><span>Possible mass overdose investigated after man dies at Sydney rave</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Been thinking about all good things you taught me," she said in a 2019 text message to Epstein. "I would never create my fund without the ideas and knowledge you shared with me and I do much love my work. thank you for being such a great friend Jeffrey!"</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>In 2022, </span><em><span>The Washington Post</span></em><span> reported that Bucher's pitches to investors boasted of her connections to Russian oligarchs, but she has dismissed those allegations and denied having any Russian funding.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Bucher has not responded to CNN's request for comment on her connections to Epstein. Thiel did not respond to requests for comment for this story.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>While it's not clear exactly how often Epstein traveled to Russia, flight logs analysed by CNN and published by the Justice Department confirm he did visit the country.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell traveled to Russia between November 22 and 24 of 2002, flying from Copenhagen to Moscow's Vnukovo Airport on Epstein's personal aircraft, according to flight logs and a 2018 email published by the Justice Department.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The pair then flew to St Petersburg, landing at Pulkovo Airport the same day. Then, on November 24, the flight log shows that both departed on the same aircraft for Ireland.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A photo uploaded on Esther Dyson's Flickr account in 2005 shows Epstein in Sarov, Russia, standing in front of Andrei Sakharov's cottage.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Sakharov worked on the Soviet hydrogen bomb and later became known as a dissident. The photo geolocated by CNN is timestamped April 28, 1998, though CNN cannot independently verify the date it was captured.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Dyson, who was involved in start-ups in Eastern Europe and Russia at the time, confirmed the authenticity of the photo. Sarov is a Russian town housing a closed center for nuclear research – and Epstein was known to have had a keen interest in science and technology.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Epstein later reapplied for a Russian visa in 2018, according to emails released by the Justice Department.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Another email indicates that his team asked about transferring his valid Russian visa to a new passport in March 2019, just months before his arrest on federal charges related to sex trafficking of minors.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>NEVER MISS A STORY: Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><p><strong><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via </span></strong><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727"><strong><span>Apple</span></strong></a><strong><span> and </span></strong><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1"><strong><span>Google Play</span></strong></a></p></li><li><p><strong><span>Make 9News your preferred source on Google by </span></strong><a href="https://9.nine.com.au/8x987w"><strong><span>ticking this box here</span></strong></a></p></li><li><p><strong><span>Sign up to </span></strong><a href="https://login.nine.com.au/edm?client_id=nineatnine"><strong><span>our breaking newsletter here</span></strong></a></p></li></ul></div></div>