Точка Синхронізації

Terje Rød-Larsen, a prominent Norwegian diplomat and the president of the International Peace Institute (IPI), resigned from his post in New York on October 15, 2020, following revelations regarding his undisclosed financial ties to the disgraced late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The resignation came as a direct result of mounting pressure from the IPI board and the Norwegian government after investigative reports revealed that Rød-Larsen had secured personal loans and donations from Epstein’s foundations, creating a significant conflict of interest and damaging the reputation of the global think tank. The controversy intensified when it was discovered that Rød-Larsen had authorized a $650,000 payment from the IPI to a foundation controlled by Epstein for various projects. Furthermore, internal documents revealed that the diplomat personally owed Epstein $130,000, a debt that was not disclosed to the organization’s auditors or board members. This personal financial entanglement raised serious ethical concerns, as the IPI maintains close ties with the United Nations and receives substantial funding from international governments, including Norway, which launched an immediate inquiry into the matter. In his resignation statement, Rød-Larsen expressed his deepest regrets for what he described as a "grave error in judgment" regarding his interactions with Epstein. He acknowledged that his association with the disgraced financier had caused irreparable harm to the institute's credibility and detracted from its mission of promoting global peace and security. The IPI board has since appointed an interim leader and initiated a comprehensive independent audit to ensure that no other financial irregularities exist within the organization's accounts. The fall of Rød-Larsen marks a significant chapter in the broader scandal surrounding Jeffrey Epstein, whose reach into high-level diplomacy and international philanthropy continues to be exposed. As a key architect of the 1993 Oslo Accords between Israel and the Palestinians, Rød-Larsen was once considered one of Norway's most influential diplomatic figures. His departure underscores the increasing demand for transparency and accountability among global leaders who maintained ties with Epstein, even after his initial conviction in 2008.