VILNIUS, Feb 3 (Reuters) – Lithuanian prosecutors said on Tuesday they were investigating potential human trafficking after the United States released documents related to late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein that named prominent Lithuanians.
“Only by initiating a pretrial investigation can an objective and thorough investigation into situations of questionable legality be carried out and international legal cooperation be carried out,” Lithuania’s prosecutor general’s office said in a statement, without naming any suspects or specific crimes.
Earlier on Tuesday, President Gitanas Nauseda called for a principled law enforcement investigation into the case.
Lithuanian media reported that several Lithuanian models and artistic figures were named in documents released by the U.S. Department of Justice last week.
Several performers have announced a boycott of the Vilnius Midsummer Festival, after documents revealed that the festival’s promoter, Valdas Petreikis, had received payments from Epstein.
Petrekis has said he was unaware of Epstein’s crimes when they met, has denied wrongdoing and has withdrawn from promoting art events due to public backlash.
Lithuanian police and prosecutors are currently evaluating publicly released information, analyzing the legal framework and exchanging information with partners, the Prosecutor General’s Office said.
(Reporting by Andrius Sytas Writing by Louise Rasmussen Editing by Terje Solsvik)
