Russia has broken its silence on the latest release of the Epstein files, with one of Vladimir Putin's top allies calling the case "pure Satanism". Foreign minister Sergey Lavrov said the documents and photos show the "real face" of the elites "seeking to rule the whole world".
He told NTV: "This topic has exposed the real face of what is called the collective West and the deep state, or rather, an alliance that controls the entire West and is seeking to rule the whole world. It is unnecessary to explain to any normal person that this is pure Satanism and is beyond human comprehension."
Epstein dicussed a potential meeting with Lavrov in an email to Norwegian politician Thorbjørn Jagland on June 24, 2018 - roughly a year after the death of Russia’s ambassador to the United Nations, Vitaly Churkin.
He wrote: "I think you might suggest to putin, that lavrov, can get insight on talking to me. vitaly churkin used (to) but he died. ?!"
Jagland said he would suggest the idea to Lavrov's assistant during a meeting the following week.
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."
This has sparked theories that Esptein could have been a Russian intelligence asset, with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk launching an investigation into the possibility.
He said: "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-organized by Russian intelligence services.
"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.
"This can only mean that they also possess compromising materials against many leaders still active today."
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said reporters should "not waste time" looking into allegations that Epstein had links to Russian intelligence.
He added: "The theory that Epstein was controlled by Russian intelligence services can be taken in any way, but not seriously."
