Author: Ivan Preobrazhensky
The world media is actively studying the archives of Jeffrey Epstein. The numerous Russians on the lists of the convicted sex offender's close associates cannot go unnoticed. There is even discussion about whether the American millionaire, a friend of Presidents Clinton and Trump, was an agent of the Russian services. But is it only the hypothetical connection with the FSB that connects Epstein to the Russian rulers?
The Russian elite is clearly close to the Western elite - that of criminals
After the collapse of the USSR, the merged Soviet nomenklatura, Chekists like Vladimir Putin and bandits like his personal acquaintances from "criminal" St. Petersburg rushed to capitalism because they wanted to live "like in the West". For them, the West was associated with the right to do whatever you want, as long as you have "real" connections and "mangizi". However, as the scandal surrounding the documents in the Jeffrey Epstein case shows, there are enough such people in the West.
Nevertheless, Putin often complains that Russians have never been accepted into the "elite club" of the West. Discrimination, he says. However, the Epstein files show that some representatives of the Russian elite seem to have been integrated all these years precisely into the closed clubs of lawbreakers, rapists and pimps. They also supplied their own compatriots there, many of whom were minors.
Perhaps this is what prevented them from institutionally integrating into the world's top league? There are, of course, enough adventurers and criminals there, but to resemble them is not considered a manifestation of good taste. In Russia, apparently, one cannot even hope for attempts to investigate the scandalous testimonies from the documents of the Epstein case - the risk of self-disclosure is too great. Unlike Europe: in the UK, for example, there have already been real resignations - such as that of former European Commissioner Peter Mandelson, and criminal cases have already been opened in Lithuania.
What connects the Russian ruling class and Epstein's relatives
Epstein's Russian connections and acquaintances may have been quite extensive. The archives contain a wide variety of information about his possible contacts - from oligarchs and ministers to the activist of the "Nashi" movement Maria Drokova, an assistant to the founder of the pro-Kremlin youth movement Sergei Yakemenko. Having left for the USA, she allegedly helped Epstein with PR. There are even letters dedicated to the appointment of the son of the Russian permanent representative to the UN Vitaly Churkin.
In fact, scandalous details from the lives of celebrities can already be read in the tabloids, and the facts about the crimes - among investigative journalists. It seemed more interesting to me not to analyze Jeffrey Epstein's alleged connections with the special services (he was certainly used at least) or the obvious scandals, but to try to show the basis that connects two worlds: the Russian ruling class and Epstein's clients.
It is no secret, for example, that the special services, including the Soviet ones, in their vocabulary used women (and men) as "objects" through which to collect information or exert influence. The Russian services later applied these methods, for example, against the opposition back in the 2000s. The American organizer of the trade in minors did almost the same. The main thing here is the similarity in methods. On this basis, a natural connection arises with Yakemenko, who, as the editor-in-chief of "Insider" claims Roman Dobrokhotov, was involved in the selection of prostitutes for high-ranking Russians.
Private islands and sex parties, which may have been accompanied by acts of incitement to prostitution? Doesn't the detention of Russian oligarchs on approximately the same charges make us think? In the case of the Russians, this is also a continuation of the Soviet tradition of closed "government" saunas, which during the era of stagnation turned into real decision-making centers. The principle is simple: the end justifies the means.
The Kremlin is trying to "shift the blame"
Unlike British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Vladimir Putin is not even trying to publicly pretend to be shocked by the data in the documents from the Epstein case. On the contrary - the Kremlin is trying to "shift the blame". Propagandists happily hype Epstein's connections to European royal families, American politicians, and businessmen. But they are silent about the Russians.
But that's not enough. Russian provocateurs have already started spreading fake publications about supposedly spicy mentions of French President Emmanuel Macron and Epstein's trafficking in Ukrainian, not Russian, minors. The task is simple - to convince Russians that the whole world is as dirty as the Russian ruling class - there is nowhere to run and what to look for differently.