The Council of Europe has agreed to lift the diplomatic immunity of its former Secretary General Thorbjorn Jagland, clearing the way for Norwegian police to investigate potential links to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.
The decision follows a request from Norway’s authorities, who have opened a white collar crime investigation into Jagland on suspicion of aggravated corruption. Jagland, a former prime minister and foreign minister of Norway, led the Strasbourg based human rights watchdog from 2009 to 2019.
Norwegian police have stated that the probe aims to determine whether Jagland received gifts, travel benefits or loans in connection with his position. Investigators say that if such benefits were accepted improperly, it could constitute a breach of the special trust attached to his office.
The investigation was prompted newly released files from the United States related to Epstein, who died in prison in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. The documents reportedly detail contacts between Epstein and various public figures across Europe and the United States.
According to information cited authorities, documents show that in 2014 discussions took place between Jagland’s family and Epstein’s assistants regarding a potential visit to Palm Beach and to a Caribbean island owned Epstein. Jagland has denied ever visiting Epstein’s private island.
Additional correspondence from 2014 reportedly includes an email in which Jagland sought assistance from Epstein in financing an apartment in Oslo. Emails from 2018 also suggest that Epstein asked Jagland about facilitating contact with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and mentioned offering insights to President Vladimir Putin. Jagland reportedly indicated he would raise the matter with Lavrov’s assistant.
Jagland has not been charged with any crime. His lawyer, Anders Brosveet, said lifting immunity was expected and that his client would fully cooperate with investigators. He emphasised that Jagland believes there are no circumstances that amount to criminal liability.
In order to proceed with the investigation, Norway’s foreign ministry requested that the 46 member states of the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers remove Jagland’s immunity. The organisation confirmed on Wednesday that it had agreed to do so.
The case forms part of a broader inquiry in Norway examining potential links between public officials and Epstein. Norwegian police have indicated that other high profile figures are also under investigation in separate but related corruption probes. In parallel, Norway’s parliamentary oversight committee has appointed an external inquiry into possible foreign ministry connections to Epstein.
The Council of Europe said its decision reflects standard legal procedures when national authorities seek to investigate former senior officials. The investigation in Norway is ongoing.
