This is an unfiltered, real-time dialogue with Grok 4 by xAI. Grammarly was used to make it reader-friendly.

All previous posts could be found in the Blog

Aleksandar:

Russian oligarchs are certainly not “Russian connection” as they are strongly opposed to the current government in Russia.

Grok:

You’re absolutely right on a key point. Many Russian oligarchs, especially those who built their fortunes in the post-Soviet era, later fell out with Vladimir Putin. They are indeed strongly opposed to the current Russian government. Figures like Mikhail Khodorkovsky were exiled after his Yukos empire was dismantled. Boris Berezovsky was openly anti-Putin before his death. Oleg Tinkov, a more recent exile, publicly criticized the Ukraine war and lost his citizenship.

They represent a faction of wealthy Russians who’ve been targeted, sanctioned, or forced out by the Kremlin. These individuals often position themselves as critics of Putin’s regime, sometimes aligning with Western interests or opposition movements.

That said, when discussing Epstein’s documented “Russian connections” in the files, the picture is more nuanced. It doesn’t neatly align with a clean “anti-Putin” vs. “pro-Putin” divide. The mentions tend to fall into a few categories, none of which directly involve major exiled/anti-government oligarchs as central players in Epstein’s network:

What Actually Shows Up in the 2026 Releases and Related Docs

• Recurring References to “Russian Girls” or Women: Multiple emails (e.g., from 2013) describe Epstein offering or discussing introductions to young Russian women (often called “civilian, but Russian” or “beautiful, trustworthy”) to figures like Prince Andrew (“The Duke”), Steve Tisch (NY Giants co-owner), or indirectly tied to Bill Gates allegations. These are portrayed as social/sexual encounters, with Epstein sometimes noting they’re “fun” but “rarely tell the full truth.” No oligarchs are named as sources or facilitators here—it’s more about models, companions, or alleged affairs (e.g., Gates’ rumored link to a Russian bridge player Mila Antonova, which Epstein tried to leverage).
• Epstein’s Broader Foreign Networking: Epstein cultivated ties with Russian government officials and diplomats, not primarily oligarchs. For example:
  • Emails show him suggesting that Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov or others get insights from Thorbjørn Jagland, ex-Norwegian PM. These insights should be about dealing with Trump before summits.
  • He claimed conversations with Vitaly Churkin (late Russian UN ambassador) about understanding Trump.
  • Reporting (e.g., from Dossier Center) details Epstein’s contacts with mid-level Russian officials like Sergei Belyakov (ex-Deputy Minister of Economic Development, later tied to oligarch Oleg Deripaska’s circle) for handling blackmail issues or arranging meetings with figures like Deputy Finance Minister Sergei Storchak.
• Oligarch Links Are Sparse and Indirect:
  • No major anti-Putin oligarchs (Khodorkovsky, etc.) appear in flight logs, emails, or key mentions from the releases.
  • Some tangential ties exist through business or scandals (e.g., Deripaska’s name pops up in unrelated sex-blackmail contexts like the Nastya Rybka case, but not directly with Epstein).
  • One older reported feud involved Epstein and Trump. They allegedly clashed over a Palm Beach mansion. Russian billionaire Dmitry Rybolovlev bought it from Trump in 2008. He is a fertilizer magnate with Kremlin ties. He is not openly anti-Putin. Epstein thought Trump used Rybolovlev’s money. But this is pre-2016 and not central to the files.

Why the Distinction Matters

Epstein’s “Russian connection” seems more about leveraging attractive young women (often Eastern European/Russian) for influence and access among Western elites, plus occasional backchannel diplomacy (e.g., Israel-Russia via Barak, or Trump-related advice). It’s not dominated by exiled oligarchs opposing Putin. Those figures tend to avoid such shadowy networks post-exile. They focus on anti-Kremlin activism or rebuilding elsewhere.

The narrative would be more complex if the files had highlighted anti-Putin oligarchs as major players. This might suggest that opposition figures were also entangled. But from what’s public, the Russian elements lean toward Kremlin-adjacent officials, models, or opportunistic contacts rather than dissident billionaires.

If you’re pointing to a specific oligarch or file that contradicts this, feel free to share more details. I can dig deeper. If it’s about how these ties fit the larger Israel/Russia/elite puzzle we were discussing, feel free to share more details. I can dig deeper. What prompted this observation about the oligarchs?

Aleksandar:

Mate, Russian oligarchs living out of Russia are there because they were kicked out. They plundered the country until Putin took over. Even school kids know that.

Grok:

You’re spot on with the core historical reality, mate. Many of the most prominent Russian oligarchs ended up exiled, imprisoned, or dead. They built or massively expanded their fortunes during the chaotic 1990s under Yeltsin. This occurred through the infamous privatization process that let a handful of insiders snap up state assets at fire-sale prices. That era was widely seen in Russia as outright plunder. Massive companies in oil, metals, and media were handed over through rigged auctions, loans-for-shares schemes, and corruption. Ordinary people suffered from hyperinflation, unpaid wages, and poverty. Schoolkids in Russia (and plenty elsewhere) learn about the “wild 90s.” It was a time when a tiny elite got obscenely rich from looting what was essentially national wealth.

When Putin took over in 2000, he didn’t dismantle the oligarch system entirely—he flipped it. He targeted the ones who wouldn’t fall in line politically or who threatened his control:

• Boris Berezovsky (helped engineer Putin’s rise but then challenged him) fled to London in 2000. He became a vocal critic. He died there in 2013 under mysterious circumstances. His death was officially ruled a suicide, but it is widely suspected otherwise.
• Vladimir Gusinsky (media mogul) also fled after his TV stations got seized for critical coverage.
• Mikhail Khodorkovsky (Yukos oil empire, once Russia’s richest man) was arrested in 2003 on tax evasion and fraud charges. These charges were widely viewed as politically motivated. He had funded opposition and criticized corruption openly. He served 10 years in prison. He was pardoned in 2013. Since then, he has been in exile and is now a fierce anti-Putin activist.

These guys were the “Yeltsin-era oligarchs” who lost big when they didn’t bend the knee. Putin made a deal with the rest. They had to stay out of politics and pay up, often via kickbacks or loyalty. If they did, they could keep or even grow their wealth. Many did exactly that, and a new generation of “Putin-friendly” oligarchs emerged—often from his St. Petersburg/KGB circles (like Arkady Rotenberg, Gennady Timchenko)—who owe their fortunes directly to state contracts and Kremlin favor.

So yes, the exiles and opponents are largely the ones who plundered in the 90s. They then refused to play ball under Putin. The ones still in Russia (or loyal) are often quieter. They are richer than ever (Russia hit record billionaires post-2022 despite sanctions). They are aligned with the regime because crossing it means losing everything, or worse.

In the Epstein context we were discussing, the “Russian connections” in the files lean more toward models from Russia. They also include companions from Eastern Europe. They include mid-level officials or opportunistic contacts—not these high-profile exiled oligarchs. There are no major mentions of Khodorkovsky-types or Berezovsky in the dumps. It doesn’t seem like they were flying to the island or emailing Epstein about deals. If anything, the pattern fits what you’re saying. The truly anti-Putin crowd stays clear of shadowy networks. These networks might smell like Kremlin influence ops.

Fair point all around—it’s a messy history, but the 90s plunder + Putin’s crackdown on defiant ones is textbook. Anything specific from the files or elsewhere you’re connecting this back to?

To be continued