Epstein files include former CoE secretary and former EU envoy for Kosovo

The name of the former Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Thorbjørn Jagland, known for his harsh and often accusatory stances towards Kosovo, has been included in declassified documents related to American financier Jeffrey Epstein, convicted of sex crimes against minors.

Jagland, during his term, had made strong statements about Kosovo. In 2004, he claimed that the mafia had taken control of part of the country's government, stating that Kosovo produced little other than crime. He added that a large part of the world's opium passed through Kosovo, prompting international alarm.

Later, in 2010, Jagland called for an in-depth investigation into former Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi, based on Dick Marty's report on serious allegations, including human organ trafficking. He stated that these allegations could not go unanswered and expressed fear for their consequences.

Meanwhile, newly released documents show that Jagland and his family had planned a trip to Jeffrey Epstein's private Caribbean island, six years after Epstein was convicted of attempting to procure sexual services from minors. The released emails reveal details about the trip's arrangements, including transportation and accommodation on the island, where sexual abuse was later reported to have taken place.

The trip, according to the documents, had been canceled. In an email dated April 11, Jagland wrote that he could not travel due to Russia's annexation of Crimea, Norwegian media outlet Dagbladet reported.

The documents also reveal that Jagland's communication with Epstein was ongoing. In an email dated May 25, 2012, after an official visit to Albania, Jagland wrote to Epstein that he had been to Tirana, mentioning "wonderful girls."

Jagland's inclusion in these documents has brought attention back to international figures who have played a key role in relations with Kosovo, but without ever being subjected to a deep public verification process.

At the same time, the name of the former European Union envoy for the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, Miroslav Lajcak, was also included in the files related to Jeffrey Epstein. After the publication of these documents, Lajcak resigned from his post as security advisor to Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico.

Documents declassified by the US Department of Justice and reported by international media include Lajcak's name in correspondence and contacts dating back years. Although Lajcak has denied any criminal charges against him, his immediate resignation demonstrates the heavy political weight of the public exposure.

The Lajčak case has raised serious questions about the European Union and the way the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue has been managed. During his mandate as mediator, Serbia, despite its refusal to align with EU foreign policy and close ties with Russia, managed to avoid serious political consequences even after serious destabilizing episodes in Kosovo, including the crisis in the north and armed attacks linked to structures from Belgrade.

In contrast, Kosovo faced constant diplomatic pressure for political concessions, often without clear reciprocity. This approach was widely perceived in Pristina as tolerance towards Serbia, which remains Russia's closest ally in the Western Balkans.

Lajčák's relations with Moscow are well-documented since his time as Slovakia's foreign minister, including frequent contacts with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. This became particularly problematic after the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, when Russian influence in the Balkans intensified through Serbia, disinformation, and political pressure.

In this context, the involvement of two important European figures in the files related to Jeffrey Epstein has opened wider debates on the transparency, integrity and selection process of international mediators in sensitive geopolitical issues.

The issue lies not only in individual legal responsibility, but in whether such diplomatic profiles and contact networks have been appropriate for processes where Kosovo and the region have been directly affected by global rivalries.

For Kosovo, this development serves as a reminder that the dialogue with Serbia has never been isolated from broader geopolitical interests and that the role of international actors must be assessed as critically as the actions of the parties to the conflict themselves.

The Geo Post