Kidnapping of Israeli Academic in Iraq Linked to Iranian Prisoner Release
Moscow claims to be unaware of the Russian citizenship of Israeli-Russian academic Elizabeth Tsurkov, who is reportedly being held by a pro-Iranian Shiite militia in Iraq. The Russian ambassador in Iraq stated that he has not received any appeals from Tsurkov's family or friends and does not have information on her citizenship or whereabouts. The Kremlin has pledged to inquire with Russia's Foreign Ministry to protect Tsurkov's interests, while the Iraqi government has opened an investigation into her kidnapping.
