Washington, United States. Email correspondence in newly released Epstein case files shows Cyprus was discussed as a possible jurisdiction for setting up a company linked to the Israeli technology firm Reporty but was ultimately rejected. The emails date to July 2017 and involve Jeffrey Epstein, former Israeli prime minister Ehud Barak, and investor Nicole Junkermann.
Emails on financing and jurisdiction
The correspondence covers talks about financing and the expansion structure of Reporty, including the choice of a European jurisdiction for a subsidiary.
In one message, Epstein describes using Cyprus for tax purposes as an “outdated and dangerous practice,” raising concerns about the country’s reputation.
In a follow-up email, Barak says he instructed that “all actions regarding the Cyprus company be frozen” and that preparations begin to move to a “real European jurisdiction.” The correspondence does not clarify whether a Cypriot entity had already been incorporated or how far the plans had progressed.
Luxembourg suggested as alternative
In the same exchange, Junkermann writes that Cyprus is viewed with suspicion in investment circles and proposes Luxembourg as an alternative, citing credibility rather than regulatory or legal concerns.
The emails do not refer to Cypriot banks, state authorities, or professional service providers, nor do they indicate that Epstein or Barak pursued any business activity in Cyprus.
Document release and background
The correspondence forms part of a new release of Epstein-related documents by the US Department of Justice, which includes more than three million records.
Epstein died in a New York jail cell in 2019 while facing charges of sex trafficking of minors. In 2008, he was convicted in Florida in a case involving the prostitution of a minor and served a sentence that was later criticised as excessively lenient.
Victims and advocacy groups maintain that Epstein ran an extensive network of exploitation and human trafficking with links to powerful circles.
What do you think the emails indicate about how investors assessed Cyprus as a jurisdiction in 2017?
