The Israeli Prime Minister's Office on Wednesday confirmed that Elizabeth Tsurkov, a Russian-Israeli researcher and writer on Syrian affairs, has been missing in Iraq for several months and is being held by Kata'ib Hezbollah, a Shiite militia group. According to the Prime Minister's Office, "Elizabeth Tsurkov is still alive, and we see Iraq as responsible for her fate and wellbeing."
The Prime Minister's Office added that Tsurkov entered the Arab state, which has no official ties with Israel, on a Russian passport. They assured that the issue is being handled by the relevant authorities in Isreal "While worrying for Elizabeth Tsurkov's security and wellbeing."
According to The Cradle, Tsurkov became well known for her reporting and commentary during the US-led war against Syria that began in 2011.
An active user of Twitter, Tsurkov has not posted to the social media site since March 21. Despite this abrupt silence, no reports have previously emerged in the Western press citing her possible disappearance.
Tsurkov was first rumored to have disappeared while in the southern Iraqi city of Basra. However, information obtained by The Cradle indicates that “she was kidnapped from a house in the Karrada neighborhood of Baghdad on 26 March.”
However, senior Iraqi security sources told The Cradle that Tsurkov’s kidnappers “were dressed in official Iraqi security service uniforms.” Since then, no information about her whereabouts or who may be holding her has emerged.
Irena, Tsurkov's mother, claimed to Channel 13: "No government official contacted me, they didn't update me about anything. The last time I heard from her was two months ago in Turkey, and she said everything was fine and said she wasn't available because she had no reception. I don't understand what happened, suddenly, the press started talking to me."