JERUSALEM — A high-ranking official in Israel has announced that the government is actively collaborating with its allies to secure the release of an Israeli-Russian researcher, who is thought to have been abducted in Iraq almost two years ago.
The official conveyed this information on Thursday, following a meeting of special envoys tasked with hostage affairs held in Jerusalem earlier this week. During this meeting, the envoys, which included representatives from the U.S., U.K., Germany, Austria, and Canada, engaged with the family of Elizabeth Tsurkov, who is the missing researcher. The official mentioned that Israel is urging these nations to lobby the Iraqi government through their embassies in Baghdad, in hopes of initiating negotiations. Since Israel and Iraq do not share diplomatic relations, this assistance is deemed crucial. The official expressed optimism that more countries would join in the effort.
“We are counting on our allies,” the official stated, requesting to remain anonymous due to the sensitive nature of the discussions. “I hope that additional nations will offer their support in our quest to free Elizabeth. Several countries maintain embassies and have ties with the Iraqi government.”
Elizabeth Tsurkov, a 38-year-old doctoral student at Princeton University, disappeared in Baghdad in March 2023 while conducting field research. She had traveled to Iraq using her Russian passport. The only indication of her survival came in November 2023 when an Iraqi television channel aired a video that purportedly displayed her, which was subsequently shared on pro-Iranian social media platforms.
Responsibility for her abduction has not been claimed by any specific group; however, Israeli authorities suspect that she is being held by Kataib Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed militia with alleged connections to the Iraqi government.
According to the Israeli official, after several months of discreet negotiations, there is a renewed belief that recent regional developments present a unique opportunity to advocate publicly for Tsurkov’s release.
Over the past 15 months of ongoing conflict, Israel has targeted Iranian interests and its allied forces, leading to a noticeable reduction in Iran’s influence in the region. Furthermore, there are indications that Iraq has exerted pressure on militia groups to cease their aerial assaults against Israeli targets.
