Elizabeth Tsurkov has been held in Iraq for over 860 days. A Princeton researcher, she was kidnapped in Baghdad in late March 2023 by Kataib Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed militia. “My sister has now been held captive for over two years since her kidnapping. The fact that Elizabeth remains in the custody of an Iran-backed militia group in Iraq reflects poorly on Iraq’s sovereignty and calls into question [Iraq’s Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-] Sudani’s ability to control these armed factions within Iraq’s borders,” Emma Tsurkov told The Jerusalem Post on August 1.
Elizabeth Tsurkov holds Israeli and Russian citizenship and resided in New Jersey until her abduction in March 2023. Her sister Emma, who is based in California and has campaigned to free her, says that “Iraq has an opportunity right now to do the right thing and enhance the relationship with the Trump administration.”
Emma Tsurkov suggested that the 35% tariffs being placed on Iraq could be linked to Iraq’s refusal to free Elizabeth. Baghdad could improve its ties with Washington if it were to show it can rein in Iranian-backed militias and free the researcher.
Iraq’s foreign minister said that Iraq was trying to free Elizabeth Tsurkov in January 2025. He said at the time that the kidnapped researcher was alive; however, Sudani has not secured her release in six months. In March 2025, US President Donald Trump’s Special Envoy for Hostage Response Adam Boehler traveled to Iraq to press Sudani for the release of Tsurkov. Iraq’s National Security Advisor claimed the country was continuing its efforts to free her. However, months have since ticked by, and there has been no breakthrough.
On July 29, the Associated Press noted that Sudani is seeking closer ties with the Trump administration. However, Iranian-backed militias have been launching drone attacks targeting energy facilities in the Kurdistan Region in northern Iraq. “Just as the drone attacks have called into question Baghdad’s control over armed groups, so has the case of Israeli-Russian researcher Elizabeth Tsurkov, who went missing in Iraq in 2023,” the AP noted. The US has condemned the drone attacks.
Elizabeth Tsurkov kidnapping and the Iraqi inability to free her
Emma Tsurkov says she has been in direct communication with US officials who have reassured her that her sister’s freedom remains a top priority for the Trump administration. “The Trump administration has been remarkably supportive of my family. They have made it clear to the Iraqi government that securing Elizabeth’s release is a key administration objective, and they are prepared to use tariffs as a tool to achieve that goal. My sister’s continued captivity is an important factor in determining the rate of tariffs imposed on Iraq and the nature of the relationship going forward,” she said.
She noted that recent tariffs announced on Iraq might be linked to Baghdad’s recalcitrance. “The original 30% tariff that was announced recently was increased to 35% today. This impacts all of Iraq’s exports to the US. Iraqi Prime Minister Sudani understands that Elizabeth’s freedom is critically important to the Trump administration. His continued efforts to cover for the Kataib Hezbollah militia holding my sister are coming at an enormous cost to the people of Iraq.”
Now, Baghdad could do the right thing. This is an opportune time for Iraq. The Israel-Iran 12-day conflict ended in late June. The drone attacks occurred in July. However, Iraq wants to show it can control its own territory. This is because Iraq is heading into elections in November. In addition, there is a new commander for the US-led anti-ISIS coalition, and he arrived in Iraq in July and met Sudani. The Iraqi prime minister will want to show he is committed to stability if he hopes to have US support for his government, military, and economy.
Emma Tsurkov notes that Sudani misled the Biden administration in April 2024 and did not free Elizabeth. “He cannot get away with the same approach with President Trump,” she noted. She also said that Kataib Hezbollah, the group behind the kidnapping, is part of the Popular Mobilization Forces, a group of militias that are supposed to answer to the Iraqi government. The PMF is a kind of official paramilitary force. Many of its militias are close to Iran. “If he [Sudani] truly is the commander-in-chief, then he has the power to free my sister. He is basically funding my sister’s kidnappers,” says Tsurkov.
She notes that releasing her sister “could immediately remove a major obstacle in US-Iraq relations. Prime Minister Sudani says strengthening ties with America is an Iraqi priority. Well, freeing my sister would be a concrete step toward that goal. Her continued captivity is emblematic of the larger problem with the militias, and her release is fundamental to any meaningful improvement in the US-Iraq relationship.” Every day Elizabeth remains in captivity is another day too long, Emma says. “I will not stop fighting to bring my sister home. The more people who know about the Iraqi government’s role in Elizabeth’s captivity, the more helpful it is to our cause of bringing her home.”