Abductee Elizabeth Tsurkov Released By Hezbollah

Elizabeth Tsurkov, a Russian-Israeli Princeton PhD student has been released in Iraq after a two and a half year detainment by Hezbollah. The terrorist organization had denied any involvement in her kidnapping. 

She was abducted from a cafe in Baghdad’s Karrada district in March 2023 while conducting academic research for her dissertation in Iraq, and had been tortured over a span of 30 months. 

Her sister, Emma, who is Russian-American, is also a PhD student at Princeton University. Her family also thanked U.S. President Donald Trump and his hostage envoy Adam Boehler for securing her release. 

“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,” wrote Tsurkov’s sister on X. 

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke with her mother and sisters, and referred to the conversation as “emotional.” He also told them that “all of Israel is happy to see her home again.” Prime Minister Netanyahu also thanked hostage coordinator Gal Hirsch for his hard efforts in negotiations, and pledged to continue to fight with strength for the release of all of the hostages, both living and deceased. 

In May, details on advanced negotiations securing her release went public. She was exchanged for an IRGC officer and others involved in anti-U.S. terror. 

Details on how her release was secured have not yet been publicized. She is currently in the hands of the U.S. Embassy in Iraq.