Europe’s top human rights body lifts former Norwegian PM’s immunity after Epstein links 

The Council of Europe has waived the diplomatic immunity of its former Secretary-General Thorbjørn Jagland after a request from Norwegian police who have launched a corruption investigation into his links with convicted sex offender Jeffery Epstein. 

The decision to lift Jagland’s immunity was taken unanimously by the CoE’s Committee of Ministers on Wednesday morning.  

“At the request of the Norwegian authorities, the Council of Europe’s statutory decision-making body decided to waive the immunity from legal process accorded to Mr Thorbjørn Jagland in his capacity as former Secretary General,” the Council of Europe announced Wednesday.

The CoE added that the decision follows “media revelations since November 2025” that linked Jagland to Epstein.

Epstein, who prosecutors allege “created a vast network of underage victims for him to sexually exploit,” had repeated correspondence with powerful officials throughout Europe.

POLITICO previously reported that Epstein contacted Jagland — who was also formerly prime minister of Norway — in 2018, requesting to be put in touch with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. Jagland replied that he would meet Lavrov’s assistant the following day and would suggest a connection with Epstein. It is unclear whether a meeting ever took place.

Jagland’s name was also mentioned multiple times in a recent batch of Epstein-related documents published by the U.S. Department of Justice in late January. 

Norwegian police agency Økokrim requested that the Council of Europe lift the former PM’s diplomatic immunity to open the door for further investigation into an ongoing aggravated corruption case. The CoE’s decision means that Jagland is no longer protected from criminal prosecution.

Jagland’s lawyer Anders Brosveet previously told VG he welcomed the opening of the investigation.

“We are calmly awaiting the outcome. Above all, it is good for Jagland to get an authoritative clarification from Økokrim, rather than having the entire press pack conducting their own little private investigations,” Brosveet said.

Several other prominent Norwegians have appeared in the Epstein files, including Crown Princess Mette-Marit and World Economic Forum President and former Foreign Minister Børge Brende.