Russian woman accuses Norwegian-funded think tank IPI of aiding Epstein
Svetlana Pozjidajeva claims The International Peace Institute gave Epstein institutional legitimacy to traffic her for over ten years.
Russian woman: IPI was crucial to Epstein's human trafficking
Svetlana Pozjidajeva dreamed of a respectable career when she left Russia for the USA. Instead, she claims to have been manipulated and abused by Jeffrey Epstein for more than ten years.
Now she is levelling sharp criticism at The International Peace Institute (IPI) and its then-leader Terje Rød-Larsen, according to nrk.no. Pozjidajeva claims that the job Epstein secured for her at IPI in the 2010s was a cover that enabled him to exploit her.
– It is clear that IPI was crucial to Epstein's ability to traffic me across international borders, she says in a written statement.
The statement was sent to NRK only hours before the proposed mandate for the Norwegian Epstein inquiry was made public on Friday. The mandate opens the possibility for the investigation commission to examine whether Norwegian tax money contributed to human trafficking. IPI has received 130 million kroner in support from the Foreign Ministry.
The case was first reported by Dagens Næringsliv. VG has also interviewed Pozjidajeva.
Visa and letter of recommendation
Pozjidajeva claims that Epstein's control over her visa processes began as early as 2008, when she was working as a model in Europe and was put in contact with him with promises of modelling work. According to her, Epstein ensured that she obtained a visa and residence permit in the USA.
In the Epstein files lies a picture of a Norwegian Schengen visa issued to Pozjidajeva. NRK posed questions to the Foreign Ministry about this on 5 March and received a response on Friday afternoon.
The visa was issued in 2012. The Foreign Ministry confirms that the consulate general in New York received and processed Pozjidajeva's visa application that year, and states that visa practice for Russian citizens at that time was "very liberal, with limited documentation requirements".
– The Foreign Ministry has no indications that the case was handled differently than it was for Russian applicants at that time, or that anyone other than the consulate general was involved in processing the case, the Foreign Ministry writes to NRK.
Documents in the Epstein files show that several people wrote letters of recommendation to help Pozjidajeva with an O-1 talent visa. Rød-Larsen forwarded the final letter of recommendation at the request of Epstein's assistant Lesley Groff.
– These documents were the ties that bound me to my abuser and allowed Epstein to transport me internationally and continue the abuses under a cloak of institutional legitimacy, says Pozjidajeva.
"Diplomatic work was a façade"
Pozjidajeva had studied political science and spoke several languages. The goal was to work for the United Nations.
– I was told that I would assist with coordination of high-level meetings and perform substantial work for IPI and the UN, she says.
– In reality, my "diplomatic" work was a façade, she claims.
She describes how she participated in a few events on behalf of IPI and wrote notes and took pictures that she does not believe were used for any useful purpose. According to Pozjidajeva, Epstein used IPI as a front for human trafficking, and lured women with opportunities they would not otherwise have had.
– Epstein's "scheme" involved promising education or careers to lure women into a trap, she says.
Rød-Larsen's lawyer rejects accusations
Rød-Larsen's lawyer John Christian Elden strongly rejects Pozjidajeva's accusations.
– It is understandable that Svetlana today may feel both bitterness and disappointment. At the same time, it is important to be clear that the circumstances she now describes were not known to Terje Rød-Larsen at the time this is said to have occurred, says Elden.
Elden also rejects the claim that Pozjidajeva did not have genuine work duties at IPI.
– Svetlana performed genuine and important work for International Peace Institute. She contributed with translation from Russian – both in conversations and documents. These were tasks that formed part of the professional work and were regarded as valuable contributions, he says.
Rød-Larsen stepped down as IPI leader in October 2020 after it became known that he had received donations and loans from Epstein without the board being aware of it. In a statement, the institute characterised Epstein's crimes as despicable and wrote that the idea that IPI in any way should be involved with "such a repugnant character is at odds with the institution's core values".
Victim and accused recruiter
NRK has been in contact with Pozjidajeva's lawyer Brittany Henderson, who states that Pozjidajeva has the status of victim in the Epstein case. At the same time, Pozjidajeva herself has been accused of recruiting victims, among others in the American newspaper Free Press.
Officially, she was an assistant to Epstein. In that capacity, he is said to have asked her to investigate, meet and "approve" new women, she told the Wall Street Journal.
– I am ashamed and think about the other women all the time, Pozjidajeva said in the Wall Street Journal interview.
Several women who themselves were victims of Epstein have previously described how they were also used for recruitment on his behalf.
According to the mandate, the investigation commission that is now proposed should not determine "legal responsibility for individuals".
Source: Google News NO — Vold/Narkotika