Elizabeth Tsurkov Freed, Turned Over to U.S. Authorities

Princeton University doctoral student Elizabeth Tsurkov, who was abducted in Baghdad in March 2023 while conducting research, has been freed and turned over to U.S. authorities, President Donald Trump and Iraqi officials announced Tuesday. The dual Russian and Israeli citizen was reported to be at the American embassy in Baghdad after more than 900 days in captivity, according to Trump and a statement from Iraqs prime minister.

Trump said in a social media post that Tsurkov was released by the Iran backed militia Kataib Hezbollah and was now safe at the U.S. embassy, adding that she had been tortured for many months. Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al Sudani confirmed her release on social media and called it the result of extensive efforts by Iraqi security services over many months. There was no immediate comment from Kataib Hezbollah.

Accounts of who held Tsurkov during her captivity and how her release was secured contain inconsistencies. Israeli officials publicly said in 2023 that Kataib Hezbollah was responsible for the abduction, and Tsurkov's sister and other sources have said Iraqi officials and foreign counterparts in recent months had confirmed she was alive and being...