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== Kidnapping and Captivity ==

== Kidnapping and Captivity ==

In March 2023, during a research trip to Iraq,<ref>[https://www.jfeed.com/news-world/elizabeth-tsurkov-release BREAKING: President Trump Announces Release of Israeli-Russian Hostage Elizabeth Tsurkov]. JFeed, 2025-09-09.</ref> Tsurkov was abducted in Baghdad by members of Kata'ib Hezbollah, a U.S.-designated [[terrorism|terrorist]] organization with strong ties to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps ([[IRGC]]). Despite entering Iraq on her Russian passport, Tsurkov was targeted only due to her Israeli identity. She was held in harsh conditions and subjected to prolonged torture, sexually assaulted.<ref>[https://www.registercitizen.com/news/article/israeli-russian-graduate-student-kidnapped-in-21039628.php Israeli-Russian graduate student kidnapped in Iraq has been released, Trump and family say], Associated Press. 2025-09-09</ref>

In 2023, Tsurkov was on a research trip to Iraq<ref>[https://www.jfeed.com/news-world/elizabeth-tsurkov-release BREAKING: President Trump Announces Release of Israeli-Russian Hostage Elizabeth Tsurkov]. JFeed, 2025-09-09.</ref>  

At the beginning of March 2023, she underwent an emergency surgery in Iraq to treat severe spinal cord injury.<ref>[https://paw.princeton.edu/article/sister-kidnapped-phd-student-elizabeth-tsurkov-seeks-public-support-princeton Sister of Kidnapped Ph.D. Student Elizabeth Tsurkov Seeks Public Support from Princeton]. 2023-9-8.</ref> Two weeks later, on March 26, while recovering from the surgery, her apartment was kidnapped in Iraq  along with her partner, an Iraqi researcher. At first, Iraqi security services were held, and then transferred to the Shiite militia Kata'ib Hezbollah, a U.S.-designated [[terrorism|terrorist]] organization with strong ties to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps ([[IRGC]]). Despite entering Iraq on her Russian passport, Tsurkov was targeted only due to her Israeli identity. She was held in harsh conditions and subjected to prolonged torture, sexually assaulted.<ref>[https://www.registercitizen.com/news/article/israeli-russian-graduate-student-kidnapped-in-21039628.php Israeli-Russian graduate student kidnapped in Iraq has been released, Trump and family say], Associated Press. 2025-09-09</ref>

Her abduction highlighted the growing reach of Iranian proxy militias and the increasing risks faced by Israelis and [[Jews]] abroad, especially in unstable or hostile regions.

Her abduction highlighted the growing reach of Iranian proxy militias and the increasing risks faced by Israelis and [[Jews]] abroad, especially in unstable or hostile regions.