Princeton Scholar Elizabeth Tsurkov Freed After 900-Day Iraq Captivity, Trump Announces
Princeton Scholar Elizabeth Tsurkov Freed After 900-Day Iraq Captivity, Trump Announces
Princeton University doctoral student Elizabeth Tsurkov, an Israeli and Russian citizen, has been released after being held captive in Iraq for over 900 days. The news was announced yesterday, Tuesday, by President Trump.
Tsurkov, whose sister is an American citizen, is now reported to be safe at the U.S. Embassy in Iraq. She was kidnapped in 2023 by the Iran-backed, U.S.-designated terrorist group Kata’ib Hezbollah, as confirmed by Mr. Trump in a Truth Social post.
“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,” Tsurkov’s sister Emma stated yesterday, according to The Associated Press.
Princeton President Christopher L. Eisgruber also expressed the university community’s relief and joy. “The release of Princeton graduate student Elizabeth Tsurkov brings relief and joy to the University community, and we celebrate that she will be reunited with her family,” Eisgruber said in a statement to CBS News.
President Eisgruber further acknowledged the efforts to secure her release: “We thank President Trump for securing Elizabeth’s release. We are also grateful to those who worked tirelessly to bring an end to her terrible ordeal, including her family, friends and advocates.”
Beyond her studies, Tsurkov has a decade of experience working with human rights organizations in the Middle East and was a fellow at the New Lines Institute and the Foreign Policy Research Institute, contributing to New Lines Magazine before her abduction.
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