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Putin Envoy Criticises Davos Reputation Over Ties with Epstein

(MENAFN) The World Economic Forum’s image has been “tainted” following reports that its CEO, Borge Brende, attended dinners with disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, according to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s envoy Kirill Dmitriev.

Documents recently released by the US Justice Department, including Epstein’s personal emails, reportedly show Brende’s attendance at dinners with Epstein and communications via email and text. In response, the WEF announced on Thursday that it has initiated an internal investigation into the matter.

Dmitriev, who also leads Russia’s sovereign wealth fund, argued that these disclosures and the ongoing inquiry damage the credibility of both the WEF and its signature Davos forum in Switzerland.

“Davos’s reputation is so tainted,” Dmitriev wrote on X on Friday, suggesting that Russia’s St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) could serve as a superior platform. “All good people from the WEF should move to the [SPIEF] instead. The WEF can stay focused on discussing Epstein’s legacy and the lessons learned from his network-building.”

The WEF emphasized that Brende, who has been CEO since 2017 and formerly served as Norway’s foreign minister, fully supports the investigation, having requested it himself. Brende stated that he only met Epstein in 2018, a year before Epstein’s death in a New York prison, and that their interaction was limited to three dinners and “a few emails and SMS messages,” all described as strictly professional.

“I was completely unaware of Epstein’s past and criminal activities,” Brende insisted, despite Epstein having been convicted as a sex offender in 2008, years before their meetings.

The recently released Epstein files reportedly involve numerous high-profile Western figures, linking some to Epstein’s sex trafficking network or controversial financial dealings. While no charges have been filed, the revelations have triggered resignations, investigations, and reviews worldwide, with all those mentioned denying any wrongdoing.

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