Kidnapped Israeli-Russian Graduate Student Released

A Princeton University doctoral student, Elizabeth Tsurkov, who holds Israeli and Russian citizenship, has been freed after being kidnapped in Iraq in 2023 while doing research there. Her family and President Donald Trump confirmed her release.

Tsurkov spent more than 900 days in custody after being taken in March 2003 from a coffee shop in Baghdad's central neighborhood of Karradah.

“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,”

said Emma Tsurkov, her sister, who thanked officials from several countries, including the Iraqi foreign minister and deputy prime minister.

The only direct proof of life during her captivity was a video broadcast in November 2023 on an Iraqi television station and circulated on pro-Iranian social media purporting to show Elizabeth Tsurkov.