Israeli-Russian researcher Elizabeth Tsurkov freed after 903 days in Iraqi militia captivity

Russian-Israeli researcher Elizabeth Tsurkov has been released after being held captive by a militia in Iraq for 903 days, following months of negotiations to secure her freedom.

It is not clear whether Kataeb Hezbollah, her alleged kidnappers, extracted any concessions from Israel or the US in order to free Tsurkov, but there had reportedly been sticking points regarding the figures the Iran-backed group wanted to be released in exchange for the Princeton student's freedom.

Among those was Lebanese sea captain Imad Amhaz, who was kidnapped by Israel last year as well as other Iranian and Iraqi detainees.

While Tsurkov is not an American national, Trump made her release a priority when he returned to the presidency last in January. After months of stalled negotiations, he broke the news on social media on Tuesday evening, just hours after Israel bombed the Qatari capital Doha.

"I am pleased to report that Elizabeth Tsurkov, a Princeton Student, whose sister is an American Citizen, was just released by Kata’ib Hezbollah (MILITANT Hezbollah), and is now safely in the American Embassy in Iraq after being tortured for many months. I will always fight for JUSTICE, and never give up. HAMAS, RELEASE THE HOSTAGES, NOW!" he said on Truth Social.

Tsurkov was kidnapped during a visit to Baghdad on 21 March 2023, when she was conducting academic research on Iraqi militias, according to Israeli media.

The group holding her was believed to be Kataeb Hezbollah, a hardline militia that is closely aligned to Iran but not directly related to the Lebanese movement of the same name.

Only one short video of Tsurkov was released during her captivity in November 2023. The war on Gaza and the issue of other Israeli captives held by Hamas overshadowed her case, and there was little public word on the researcher in the months that followed.

Iraqi officials had insisted she was alive and said they were working with the Americans to ensure her safety, although her family criticised Baghdad's handling of her case.

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani also confirmed her release, without mentioning her Israeli citizenship, while Baghdad has insisted she was held by outlaws rather than a politically-motivated militia.

"As a culmination of extensive efforts exerted by our security services over the course of many months, we announce the release of the Russian citizen, Elizabeth Tsurkov," he tweeted.

The release of the Princeton doctoral student on Tuesday has been celebrated by friends and family who have worked hard to pressure Washington to secure her release and keep her case in the public eye.

Her sister, Emma, who had relenteslly campaigned over the past two years to secure Tsurkov's release, welcomed the news.

"My entire family is incredibly happy. We cannot wait to see Elizabeth and give her all the love we have been waiting to share for 903 days. We are so thankful to President Trump and his Special Envoy, Adam Boehler. If Adam had not made my sister’s return his personal mission, I do not know where we would be," said Emma Tsurkov.

"We also want to thank Josh Harris and his team at the US Embassy in Baghdad for the support they provided to our sister and the team at the nonprofit Global Reach who advocated relentlessly for my sister’s safe return."

According to Trump, Tsurkov is currently at the US embassy in Baghdad, although it is not clear which country she will return to next.

Tsurkov is well-known in Middle East circles for her research on the Syrian war and was also a supporter of Palestinian rights.

She was a doctoral student at Princeton University in the US when she was abducted.