Princeton PhD candidate Elizabeth Tsurkov has been released by the Shiite Militia group Kata’ib Hezbollah after nearly two and a half years of imprisonment, the White House said Tuesday.
In a statement on Truth Social, President Donald Trump said that Tsurkov was “safely in the American Embassy in Iraq.” The Iraqi Embassy in Washington confirmed the reports of Tsurkov’s release.
Tsurkov, a dual Russian and Israeli citizen, was kidnapped in Baghdad, Iraq, in March 2023 by Kata'ib Hezbollah while doing research related to her dissertation. The Israeli government confirmed her kidnapping in July of that year.
“My entire family is incredibly happy,” Emma Tsurkov, Elizabeth Tsurkov’s sister, wrote on social media. “We cannot wait to see Elizabeth and give her all the love we have been waiting to share for 903 days.”
The University also celebrated the news.
“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. We thank President Trump for securing Elizabeth’s release,” University President Christopher Eisgruber ’83 said in a University statement. “We are also grateful to those who worked tirelessly to bring an end to her terrible ordeal, including her family, friends and advocates.”
The University declined to comment on whether it had been involved in Elizabeth Tsurkov’s release.
Emma Tsurkov spoke to The Daily Princetonian last year, criticizing the Biden administration, Iraqi government, and the University for not doing enough to help her sister. She has since pushed the Trump administration to secure her sister’s release.
The last report of Tsurkov's status came in January when the Iraqi Foreign Minister reported that she was still alive.
This story is breaking and will be updated as more information becomes available.
Editor’s note: This article has been updated to include additional University comment.
Luke Grippo is an assistant News editor for the ‘Prince.’ He is from South Jersey and usually covers University and town politics, on a national, regional, and local scale.
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