Epstein's Primorye ties: visa help and EEF meeting

The high-profile case of American financier Jeffrey Epstein has been actively discussed online over the past week. Convicted of pedophilia and human trafficking, the businessman owned an island where not only adult women but also underage girls were held, and elites from various countries visited the closed location. Ultimately, Epstein was accused of organizing an international network involving girls in prostitution, both on their own and through various agencies, and among his victims were residents of CIS countries.

The U.S. Department of Justice published about 3 million «Epstein files» from his criminal case — emails, plane tickets, and many documents confirming the financier«s connections with hundreds of girls — and recently significantly expanded their catalog. Regional media ran sensational headlines about mentions in the files of various Russian regions and cities. Links to Primorye were also found. A correspondent from VLADIVOSTOK1.RU studied all mentions of Vladivostok and other cities in the region and compiled the most interesting ones.

Jeffrey Epstein is an American financier arrested in 2019 on federal charges of trafficking minors for sexual exploitation. In 2008, he had already been charged with coercing minors into prostitution. Ultimately, the businessman pleaded guilty to lesser charges and received a relatively lenient sentence — 18 months in prison with permission to leave for 12 hours to work in his office. For this, the U.S. public sharply criticized the country«s prosecutor»s office. He was released on parole after 13 months.

In July 2019, the businessman was again arrested on charges of human trafficking for sexual exploitation and witness tampering. Epstein pleaded not guilty. A month later, he was found dead in his cell at a New York prison. The official version is suicide, but the circumstances of his death, including violations of prison protocol, raised many questions and conspiracy theories.

Arab businessman wanted a meeting after the EEF

Among the files was an interesting document with scans of correspondence between Jeffrey Epstein and entrepreneur Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem from the United Arab Emirates, head of one of the world«s largest port operators, DP World. Back in August 2015, he wrote to Epstein that he would be participating in the Eastern Economic Forum (EEF), where he was invited for a personal discussion of logistics with Vladimir Putin. The businessman»s participation in the EEF is confirmed by the presence of an information card about him on the website of the Roscongress Foundation.

On 6 September, Epstein wrote to Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem without context that he was in Paris. The entrepreneur replied: «I just returned from the forum in Vladivostok, in the Far East. I had a good meeting with President Putin. I«m now in London. Tomorrow I have a meeting with David Cameron at 10 Downing Street. I»ll stay until Wednesday. How long do you plan to stay?»

On the same day, Jeffrey Epstein asked him to call and attached a phone number redacted in the document. On 7 September, Sultan Sulayem wrote that he tried to call, and asked to clarify when Epstein would be in Paris, because he wanted a meeting. At the same time, he called his interlocutor «dear Jeffrey». Whether it was simple correspondence etiquette or indicated good relations between the businessmen is unclear, but Epstein is more restrained and laconic in his messages.

In the end, Epstein replied that he was still in Paris, and Sulayem asked if he could call him. The correspondence broke off there, but there were several more documents on the EEF topic: the schedule and a list of topics discussed during the forum, as well as speakers.

Judging by further correspondence, Sultan Sulayem and Jeffrey Epstein were well acquainted and met more than once. In August 2016, the latter asked the Arab businessman if he was in Africa, but again the entrepreneur was preparing for the EEF, where a personal meeting with Vladimir Putin also awaited him.

The same thing repeated on 2 September 2017 — Epstein wrote: «I«m in Paris. And you?», to which Sultan said he had just arrived in Dubai and would fly to Vladivostok the next day.

Models were sought even in the Far East?

Epstein and his associates left their mark in many Russian regions, especially Novosibirsk, but judging by one of the files, they were also interested in working with girls from Vladivostok.

Among the documents was a printout of email correspondence between, presumably, Epstein«s assistant Bella Klein and Natalya Molotkova, literally called a «Centurion company client relationship manager». How the dialogue started is unclear, but in the published fragment from 15 May 2017, Klein wrote to Molotkova that they urgently needed to order two tickets, and asked her to call.

Who Molotkova is is also not entirely clear, but, as our colleagues from 72.RU found out, she repeatedly discussed flights for Ural girls in different years with another Epstein assistant, Lesley Groff.

Molotkova clarified that she would need to discuss the ticket purchase with Groff, since «there is permission only to use the card, not to arrange trips», and sent a link to the account settings page on the website of the large financial company American Express.

Interestingly, American Express has a black Centurion bank card — an elite financial instrument designed for very wealthy people. It offers virtually unlimited spending, a personal concierge, access to exclusive VIP events, elite status in hotels and airlines, and much more. It is possible that the designation Centurion Relationship Manager implied that Molotkova had access to this card to carry out all necessary actions in Epstein«s interests.

Later, Klein wrote to Molotkova that two tickets were needed for 16 May 2017. The first — from Vladivostok to New York with a transfer in Moscow, and the second — from Ulan-Ude (in Buryatia, Russia) to New York with a transfer in Moscow. At the same time, Klein clarified that «she would like them to go to New York together, and they should be here on Wednesday», to which later Molotkova indicated that «they are flying separately, then meet in Moscow and continue together. They must arrive in New York by the 18th. If there is no choice, he will have to change airport».

Molotkova also mentioned a flight from Mongolia to Russia and noted that Russian citizens should be flying. Who exactly is being referred to is unclear. At first glance, it seems these plane tickets were also intended for girls from the Far East who could become potential victims of Epstein, but from another correspondence it becomes clear that a certain lady and gentleman, whose names are redacted, were to fly in premium economy and economy class seats.

On 15 May, Bella Klein received an email about the successful booking of plane tickets on an Aeroflot flight, and the flight was paid for through the aforementioned American Express, but later Molotkova wrote that a problem arose with a shortage of seats, and asked whether it was possible to get to New York not through Moscow.

Klein replied that with other transit flights, especially through Europe, there could be a problem, and the best route is through the capital, and also the gentleman and lady should spend the night there. Apparently, the problem was eventually resolved, and the people were to spend the night at the Novotel hotel near Sheremetyevo Airport.

Equally interesting was Epstein«s correspondence with Natalia B. from Vladivostok in 2010. She wrote to the businessman asking for help with obtaining a visa, introducing herself as an architect of God from Russia, which literally translates as «architect of God», but given the flirtatious tone of the dialogue, the expression can be more accurately translated as «creator from God».

«Hi, Jeffrey, this is Natalie from Russia, Vladivostok. Remember me? How are you? Here are a few photos of me from New York, Vladivostok and Moscow, you«ll like them :) You know, I»m going to New York in February, but I«m having trouble getting a visa. So I want to ask you, maybe you know some ways to get it?» — wrote the girl.

It is possible that the attached photos were erotic in nature. In response, Epstein asked to describe what exactly the problem was, and promised to help.

Interestingly, at the end of January, rumors emerged that numerous Russian modeling agencies worked with Epstein, for example Shtorm models from Krasnodar, through which the businessman supposedly selected suitable models, but the agency«s founder, Dana Borisenko, completely denied any connection to the billionaire.

At the same time, a group of proactive users from anonymous forums, such as 2ch.org, claimed that through media archives and information not redacted in some documents, they were able to obtain a list of personal emails of modeling agencies that personally prepared models, including minors, for sending abroad. The published list also includes the name of Natalia B.

Monitor delivery

One of the most innocuous mentions of Vladivostok is the city«s appearance in a shipping invoice, according to which HP computer monitors were to be delivered to Jeffrey Epstein»s address in New York. They were needed for Epstein«s private plane. This is evidenced by scans of emails attached to the invoice.

Certain Mervyn Dela Cruz, Richard Kahn and Larry Visoski discussed the received screens. On 14 December, Kahn wrote that he received another package, and Cruz later replied that the monitor was in his office and could be picked up at any time.

On 15 December, Visoski wrote: «Mervyn, I«ll come to 71st Street today at 12:30 to pick up the monitor and cables that Rich bought for the plane. Is that okay? Thanks. Larry».

Who Mervyn Dela Cruz and Richard Kahn are is not exactly known, but CBSNews wrote on 26 January that Kahn is a person from Epstein«s inner circle. As for Larry Visoski, he is the businessman»s former pilot, who flew not only his boss on the private plane but also U.S. Presidents Bill Clinton and Donald Trump, as well as British Prince Andrew.

The transportation was handled by FedEx, but the route did not go through the Far Eastern capital — it was only listed in the time zone table to orient the sender and recipient.

In a similar manner, Lesley Groff wanted to receive an iPhone via FedEx delivery, in order to then give it to a person whose name is not specified in the invoice. She wrote about this to an unknown person and Bella Klein.

In the document, all addresses and the item being shipped are redacted, but below an email message is attached, which says: «I wanted to inform you that we need to provide FedEx with more documents so that they can deliver your iPhone to you. Bella will take care of it today. It won«t take long. I»ll keep you posted».

What else interested Epstein?

In the list of documents there are many more mentions of Vladivostok, but minor or indirect. For example, saved articles from foreign publications such as the New York Times and Washington Post, which discussed politics and the EEF.

Presumably, the billionaire himself wanted to visit Russia, as he wrote about a possible purchase of a ticket, but complained about the long processing of the necessary documents. Also, Epstein was sent via email methods for obtaining a temporary visa to Japan and a flight there via Vladivostok.

Also, a person named Purev is repeatedly mentioned in the messages. Who is being referred to is unclear, but from the general context it can be assumed that he is a citizen from India who was in Vladivostok and participated in the EEF.

Also, in one of the materials, Nakhodka (in Primorye, Russia) is mentioned, but also in the context of holding the EEF. Other cities of Primorye do not appear in Epstein«s files.