Adam Boehler, U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoy for hostages, criticized the Iraqi government on Wednesday for failing to secure the release of Princeton doctoral student Elizabeth Tsurkov.
Trump is now taking action to hold Iraq accountable, calling for either the Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ Al Sudani’s resignation or an acknowledgment of his complicity if Tsurkov is not returned immediately, Boehler said in an X post.
“Elizabeth Tsurkov is a Princeton student held hostage in Iraq! The @IraqiPMO consistently made false promises to the prior administration about releasing her. BUT NOW @realDonaldTrump IS ON TO YOU! If @elizrael does not come home NOW than @IraqiPMO is either incapable and should be FiRED or worse COMPLICIT. Bring Elizabeth home now!” Boehler wrote.
Elizabeth Tsurkov is a Princeton student held hostage in Iraq! The @IraqiPMO consistently made false promises to the prior administration about releasing her. BUT NOW @realDonaldTrump 🇺🇸 IS ON TO YOU! If @elizrael does not come home NOW than @IraqiPMO is either incapable and… https://t.co/09FmgWt2sW
— Adam Boehler (@aboehler) February 5, 2025
The post came in response to Elizabeth’s sister’s update on X, which marked 687 days since her abduction. Emma Tsurkov condemned the lack of action by the Iraqi prime minister and criticized the Biden administration for providing financial aid to Iraq without holding officials accountable. She expressed gratitude for Trump’s leadership and urged him to take action to bring her sister home.
The Israeli-Russian researcher has been held captive in Iraq by Iranian-backed Shi’ite militia Kata’ib Hezbollah (“The Battalions of the Party of God”) since being kidnapped in Baghdad in May 2023. Washington has designated the group (a separate and distinct organization from the Lebanese Hezbollah) as a terrorist organization.
Last month, Emma Tsurkov took part in a meeting with senior Israeli officials and international mediators in a bid to secure her sister’s release.
