Investigation Launched into Kidnapping of Missing Israeli Researcher in Iraq

Friends and colleagues of Elizabeth Tsurkov, a dual Russian-Israeli citizen who was kidnapped by an Iran-backed militia in Iraq, are condemning the spread of false allegations online, including claims that she is a spy. Tsurkov, a Princeton doctoral student, went missing in March while conducting research for her dissertation. Friends and supporters have defended her, highlighting her criticism of Israeli policies and her support for Palestinian rights. Tsurkov's loved ones have emphasized that she understood the risks involved in her work and that the decision to keep her disappearance private was a personal choice. An investigation into her kidnapping has been opened by the Iraqi government.