Iraq Opens Investigation Into Kidnapping Of Princeton Student: Report

PRINCETON, NJ – The Iraqi government has opened an investigation into the kidnapping of Princeton student Elizabeth Tsurkov, according to media reports.

Tsurkov, an Israeli-Russian PhD student at Princeton University, was kidnapped by the Shiite militia Kataib Hezbollah while conducting research in Baghdad, according to Israel. More: Princeton Student Conducting Research Kidnapped By Militia In Iraq

An Iraqi government spokesperson told the AP that the government is investigating the kidnapping.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced last week that Tsurkov visited Iraq on her Russian passport, at her own initiative to work on her doctorate and academic research on behalf of Princeton University.

Netanyahu said Tsurkov was still alive and that Israel was holding “Iraq responsible for her safety and well-being.”

The Iraqi spokesperson told Reuters that the government was waiting for the results of the investigation before providing further comment.

Kataib Hezbollah or Brigades of the Party of God is an Iraqi Shia militia that gets financial support from Iran. The U.S. has designated the group a terrorist organization since 2009.

Tsurkov began studying in Princeton in 2019. She specializes in the Middle East including Syria, Israel-Palestine and Iraq.

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