Sisters demand release of Israeli-Russian researcher kidnapped in Iraq

As U.S. President Joe Biden hosted Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani on Monday, a group of demonstrators protested outside the White House demanding the release of a Princeton University doctoral student kidnapped in Iraq more than a year ago.

Elizabeth Tsurkov was kidnapped in Baghdad in March 2023, shortly after arriving in the Iraqi capital. The dual Israeli-Russian citizen traveled to Iraq to conduct fieldwork for her thesis.

“We tried every means to contact the Iraqi government, but to no avail,” said her sister Emma Zhurkov.

Emma Zhurkov and two other siblings flew from Israel to call for their sister’s release during the Iraqi prime minister’s week-long visit to the United States. They also participated in Monday’s protest.

“I have contacted the Iraqi ambassador to the United States, I have also sent emails and even regular letters to the Iraqi government, but I have not heard from them,” Emma Zhurkov said in a telephone interview with VOA on Wednesday. any news.”

The Israeli government said in July 2023 that Chulkov was being held by Kataib Hezbollah, a powerful Shia militia with ties to the Iraqi government and Iran.

Israeli citizens are banned from traveling to Iraq, but Tsurkov entered the country using a Russian passport, the Israeli government said.

In November 2023, the U.S.-designated terrorist organization Kataeb Hezbollah released a video of Chulkov’s life certificate.

Emma Zhurkov said she met with an adviser accompanying the Iraqi prime minister on a trip to the United States.

“He informed me that they had information about Elizabeth’s case from the day she was abducted and that the task force they assigned to the case was still looking for her whereabouts and those responsible for her abduction,” she explain.

The U.S. State Department has confirmed that Biden will raise the Chulkov case with Sudani. Emma Chukov said she later learned the case was discussed during the meeting.

During a roundtable discussion with a group of journalists in Washington, the Iraqi leader said the kidnapping of Tsurkov was “unacceptable and illegal.”

“The Iraqi government has established a special team to investigate the fate of this woman and arrest those responsible for her abduction,” Sudani said, noting that he had discussed Chu at several meetings in Washington. Erkov’s case.

But her sister said Sudani’s “ridiculous” comments would not help bring Chulkov home.

“With comments like this, the Iraqi prime minister admits that he does not have the ability to control his security forces,” she said. “It’s been 13 months since Elizabeth was kidnapped and they can’t find her. We all know who kidnapped her. Kataib Hezbollah is part of the Popular Mobilization Forces, which are part of the Iraqi defense system. “

Chulkov said she hopes their public campaign in Washington will help secure her sister’s release.