Russian-’Israeli’ researcher released in Iraq after over two years in captivity

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani and US President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that Elizabeth Tsurkov, a Russian-'Israeli' academic and researcher accused of being a spy, has been released in Iraq after being held since March 2023.

The circumstances surrounding her remain disputed, with both Iraqi and US officials offering differing accounts.

Conflicting Narratives

A spokesperson for Prime Minister al-Sudani said Tsurkov had been kidnapped by “a group of outlaws” in Baghdad, and that Iraqi security services located her on Sept. 9 before handing her over to the US Embassy. The spokesperson added that those responsible would be prosecuted.

In contrast, President Trump said that Kataib Hezbollah, an Iran-backed Iraqi militia and different from the Lebanese Hezbollah, released Tsurkov. He claimed she had been “tortured for many months” and was now safe at the US Embassy in Baghdad.

Agence France-Presse, citing a source within Kataib Hezbollah, reported that the release was not a rescue but part of conditions tied to avoiding future clashes with US forces in Iraq. This claim has not been independently verified.

Tsurkov’s Background

Tsurkov, 37, is a Ph.D. candidate at Princeton University and a researcher at the Newlines Institute for Strategy and Policy. She reportedly entered Iraq on her Russian passport to conduct research on Iran-backed factions and the Sadrist movement.

She disappeared in Baghdad’s Karrada district in March 2023, with Kataib Hezbollah later accused of abducting her. In July 2023, 'Israeli' officials confirmed her abduction and said Iraq was responsible for her safety.

Iraqi state television aired footage later that year in which Tsurkov confessed to working for both the CIA and Mossad, allegations her family dismissed as "coerced".

Reactions

Following the announcement of her release, her sister Emma Tsurkov expressed relief in a post on X, writing: “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.”

'Israeli' Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also confirmed her release, crediting “months of work” led by Gal Hirsch, 'Israel’s' coordinator for captives and missing people.

The precise terms of Tsurkov’s release remain unclear. Reports from early 2025 suggested that US and Iraqi officials had been engaged in negotiations over her case.