Vitaly Churkin

Vitaly Ivanovich Churkin (February 21, 1952, Moscow to February 20, 2017, New York) was a Soviet and Russian diplomat who served as Russia's Permanent Representative to the United Nations from April 2006 until his death. Between November 2015 and January 2017 he exchanged text messages with Jeffrey Epstein, met him repeatedly in New York, and was invited to meals with Ehud Barak, Larry Summers, Tom Barrack, and Tom Pritzker. Epstein arranged help for Churkin's son, and his office continued to schedule meetings with the son after Churkin's death. Churkin collapsed at the Russian mission in New York in February 2017 and died in hospital; at the request of the State Department, the New York City medical examiner did not release the cause of death.¹²³

Diplomatic Career

Churkin was born in Moscow into the family of an aviation design engineer.¹ As a boy he appeared in at least three films, two of them about Vladimir Lenin; he graduated from the Moscow State Institute of International Relations in 1974, joined the Foreign Ministry the same year as an assistant in its translation department, and later took a doctorate in history at the USSR Diplomatic Academy.⁴⁵ He served at the Soviet embassy in Washington, in the international department of the Communist Party Central Committee, and in the Foreign Minister's secretariat.⁴ He directed the Information Department of the Foreign Ministry from 1990 to 1992 and was Deputy Foreign Minister from 1992 to 1994, and in the early 1990s was his government's special representative to the talks on the former Yugoslavia.⁴⁵ He was ambassador to Belgium and liaison ambassador to NATO and the Western European Union from 1994 to 1998, ambassador to Canada from 1998 to 2003, and ambassador-at-large from 2003 to 2006.¹

He became Russia's ambassador to the United Nations on April 8, 2006, and held the post for almost eleven years.¹⁴ On July 8, 2015 Russia cast the only negative vote, a veto, on a Security Council draft resolution that would have emphasized acceptance of the 1995 Srebrenica massacre as genocide.⁶

Contact with Epstein, 2015-2017

Epstein's first message in the produced log, on November 16, 2015, read: "I'm in town wed- fri if you have time . Jeffrey Epstein." Churkin proposed Friday at 4 p.m., and later moved the meeting to 5 p.m.⁷ On December 11, 2015 Epstein wrote, "Oil now at the 36 $ level I suggested." On January 2, 2016 he wrote, "Ehud Barak in town this week if a meal is convenient," and on January 13, while arranging a meeting for the following day, "Larry summers will be here as well," adding, "Or 12 if you prefer privacy." On February 12, 2016 Epstein wrote, "Good work on Syria , markets will continue bad."⁷

On May 23, 2016 Epstein wrote that any help for Churkin's son was "confidential." Churkin replied, "Of course," and then, "Greatly appreciated!" Epstein answered, "He's s great son."⁸ On June 9 Epstein reported that the son was "doing better" and "just needed to understand American biz habits"; Churkin replied, "U r a great teacher!" On August 1, 2016 Epstein reported that the son's "First job" was "confirmed to start day after Labor Day," and Churkin replied, "Fantastic!!"⁸ On October 21 Epstein wrote that the son was "scoring good grades" and "being exposed to the most diverse investments . Only doable in the past 5 years , great foundation."⁹

On August 28, 2016 Epstein wrote: "Don't know if you have any interest . Ehud Barak and TOM Barrack at house tomorw . You are always welcome." Churkin asked the time and accepted 1 p.m.⁸ The same afternoon Epstein's scheduler, Lesley Groff, circulated the notice "Churkin to join lunch tomorrow as well," listing Epstein, Barak, Barrack, and Churkin, "4 total"; the calendar entry for August 29, 2016 read "12:30pm LUNCH w/Ehud Barak, Tom Barrack and Vitaly Chrukin."¹⁰

On September 6, 2016 Epstein offered an introduction to "My very close friend Tom Pritzker . Hyatt hotels and chairman of CSI." Churkin proposed the next evening and later that day thanked Epstein for the time he had spent with his son. On September 7 Epstein moved the Pritzker meeting to the 18th or 19th and added: "also thorbjorn jagland will be staying with me."⁸ Thorbjørn Jagland was then Secretary General of the Council of Europe; in February 2026 Norway's economic crime unit, Økokrim, opened an investigation of him for aggravated corruption.¹¹

On November 13, 2016 Epstein wrote, "Ehud coming today at 430 . As always you are welcome." On December 2, 2016, after a meeting at 4 p.m., he wrote, "Thx your gift means a great deal." On January 5, 2017 he wrote, "Btw my house in palm beach is always available for you as your rest spot." Their last exchange in the log arranged a lunch at noon on January 10, 2017, at which Churkin wrote, "On my way .sorry."⁹ No later messages appear in the produced export.⁹

Death

Churkin was at work at the Permanent Mission of the Russian Federation to the United Nations on February 20, 2017, the day before his sixty-fifth birthday. The President of the General Assembly, Peter Thomson, said he had been told Churkin had suffered "some sort of cardiac arrest" at the mission and was taken to hospital, where he died; the New York Police Department said there were no indications of foul play.²⁵ The New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner said after the autopsy that further tests were needed. On February 24 and March 1, 2017 the State Department, through James Donovan of the United States Mission to the United Nations, wrote to the city asking that the results not be released, stating that Churkin's diplomatic immunity survived his death; the March 1 letter reported Russian complaints that media statements about his medical history had included information "very private in nature" and "about which even they had no knowledge." On March 10 the medical examiner's office said it had been instructed not to disclose further details "in order to comply with international law and protocol."³ A New York City official told CNN the same day, on condition of anonymity, that the autopsy found a heart attack and no sign of foul play.¹²

After Churkin's death Epstein's office continued to deal with his son. On July 3, 2017 Epstein's assistant arranged a telephone call from Epstein for 1:45 p.m.; on July 20 the son wrote asking to meet Epstein in person, and on August 15, 2017 Epstein's calendar recorded a 4:30 p.m. appointment with him for the following day.¹³