Tsurkov went missing in Iraq in 2023, and Israel claims she is being held by an Iran-backed militia [Getty]
Iraq’s premier will be considered complicit in the captivity of Israeli-Russian national Elizabeth Tsurkov if she is not immediately released, Washington’s hostage envoy warned on Wednesday.
“Elizabeth Tsurkov is a Princeton student held hostage in Iraq!” Adam Boehler wrote on X, accusing Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani of making “false promises” to the previous Biden administration about securing her release.
“Donald Trump IS ON TO YOU! If Elizabeth Tsurkov does not come home NOW then Iraqi PM is either incapable and should be FIRED or worse COMPLICIT,” he added. “Bring Elizabeth home now!”
Boehler’s warning came as part of a retweet from Elizabeth’s sister, Emma, who has been critical of Sudani’s handling of the case.
“It’s been 687 days since my sister… a Princeton student, was kidnapped in Baghdad. 687 days of incompetence and inaction by the Iraqi PM,” Emma Tsurkov wrote on X, accusing the Iraqi government of failing to act.
She also blamed former US President Joe Biden’s administration for “showering corrupt Iraqi officials with hundreds of millions of our taxpayer dollars with no accountability.”
“Thank God a tough leader with a backbone of steel (Donald Trump) is in the White House and is done playing games. Mr. President, only you can bring my sister home!” she wrote.
The Princeton University researcher is believed to have been captured in Baghdad in March 2023, and had reportedly visited Iraq multiple times.
A video of her speaking was broadcast on Iraqi television in November of that same year.
The Israeli prime minister’s office issued a brief statement in July 2023 stating that Tsurkov had been missing in Iraq for several months and claims she was being held by the Shia militia Kataeb Hezbollah, an elite paramilitary faction close to Iran.
Tsurkov, a Princeton University researcher, is believed to have been kidnapped in Baghdad in March 2023 after reportedly visiting Iraq multiple times.
A video of her speaking was aired on Iraqi television in November, but little information has been released about her condition or whereabouts.
The Israeli prime minister’s office confirmed in July 2023 that Tsurkov had been missing for months and claimed she was being held by Kataeb Hezbollah, an elite Iran-backed paramilitary faction.
Last month, Israeli journalist Barak Ravid reported that Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein assured him Tsurkov was still alive and that Prime Minister Sudani was working to secure her release.
Reports later emerged that Tsurkov’s release was being tied to the release of Hezbollah fighters captured by Israel in its latest war on Lebanon.
