Former Montenegrin president and prime minister Milo Djukanovic said on Saturday he had no personal or indirect contact with the late financier Jeffrey Epstein, after his name appeared in documents recently released by the U.S. Department of Justice and reported by local media.
“I did not know Epstein, nor did I ever have any direct or indirect communication with him,” Djukanovic said in a post on social media, responding to what he described as repeated media inquiries.
Djukanovic said he could not comment on the authenticity of the published communications attributed to Epstein, nor on reports about Epstein’s possible visits to Montenegro. He also dismissed media speculation over a statement attributed to Epstein describing him as “a great guy,” saying he could not explain how Epstein had reached such a conclusion.
“If anyone encounters him before I do, I recommend they verify that themselves and inform the public,” Djukanovic added.
Montenegro’s public broadcaster RTCG reported that Djukanovic is mentioned in documents linked to Epstein that were released by U.S. authorities. According to RTCG and other Podgorica-based media, the references appear in correspondence allegedly exchanged between Epstein and Miroslav Lajcak, a Slovak politician who served as the European Union’s special envoy for Montenegro’s 2006 independence referendum.
In one message cited by RTCG, Lajcak is quoted as telling Epstein that the president of Montenegro was “looking forward to our visit.” Epstein is reported to have replied by suggesting that they “might consider providing refuge for Donald,” an apparent reference to former U.S. President Donald Trump.
RTCG said the messages also included discussions about Montenegro, Trump and other political figures. In a further exchange reported by the daily Vijesti, Lajcak allegedly wrote that “Montenegro is Donald’s weak spot.”
The released materials, which U.S. authorities say include more than three million documents and images linked to Epstein, do not allege that Djukanovic engaged in any wrongdoing.
Epstein, a wealthy financier with ties to prominent political and business figures, died by suicide in a New York jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges.