Iraq: Russian-Israeli Student Elizabeth Tsurkov Released

Elizabeth Tsurkov, a Russian-Israeli student who was kidnapped in Iraq in March 2023, has been released. The news was announced by former US President Donald Trump and confirmed by Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani.

Tsurkov, a Princeton University student, was conducting research for her doctoral dissertation in Iraq when she was abducted by a Shiite militia. Trump stated that Tsurkov is now safe in the American Embassy in Iraq, "after being tortured for many months."

Emma Tsurkov, Elizabeth's sister, thanked the Trump administration for its contribution to the release. The Global Reach organization reported that Tsurkov underwent medical examinations at the US Embassy in Baghdad.

According to Reuters, the Trump administration had sent a hostage negotiator to Iraq in February to pressure for the release of Elizabeth Tsurkov.