Princeton University doctoral student Elizabeth Tsurkov made headlines in 2023 when she was taken hostage while conducting research in Iraq.

Yet in a bombshell development, President Donald Trump revealed this week that she has been set free. 

Tsurkov taken to U.S. embassy "after being tortured for many months"

According to USA Today, the president announced Tsurkov's release via a post made to his Truth Social platform on Tuesday.

"I am pleased to report that Elizabeth Tsurkov, a Princeton Student, whose sister is an American Citizen, was just released by Kata’ib Hezbollah (MILITANT Hezbollah), and is now safely in the American Embassy in Iraq after being tortured for many months," Trump wrote.

"I will always fight for JUSTICE, and never give up," the president continued before referencing kidnapped victims in Gaza, stating, "HAMAS, RELEASE THE HOSTAGES, NOW!"

What's more, USA Today noted how Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani touted the academic's freedom in a social media post of his own.

Group which kidnapped Tsurkov is backed by Iran

"In culmination of significant efforts exerted by our security agencies over many months, we announce the release of the Russian citizen Elizabeth Tsurkov," al-Sudani declared.

تتويجا لجهود كبيرة بذلتها أجهزتنا الأمنية وعلى مدى شهور طويلة، نعلن عن تحرير المواطنة الروسية اليزابيث تسوركوف، نؤكد مرة أخرى أننا لن نتهاون في إنفاذ القانون وإعلاء سلطة الدولة، وعدم السماح لأي أحد بالإساءة الى سمعة العراق والعراقيين.

— محمد شياع السوداني (@mohamedshia) September 9, 2025

"We reaffirm once again that we will not be lenient in enforcing the law and upholding the authority of the state, and we will not allow anyone to tarnish the reputation of Iraq and Iraqis," the Iraqi prime minister added.

USA Today recalled how Tsurkov, who holds both Russian and Israeli citizenship, went to Iraq in order to carry out research for her doctoral dissertation.

She was subsequently abducted after leaving a cafe in Baghdad by Kataib Hezbollah, an extremist militia group which is supported by Iran.

Emma Tsurkov thanks Trump for her sister's release

Emma Tsurkov is Elizabeth Tsurkov's sister, and she put out a statement on Tuesday which praised the president and his efforts.

"We are so thankful to President Trump and his Special Envoy, Adam Boehler," Emma Tsurkov wrote. "If Adam had not made my sister’s return his personal mission, I do not know where we would be."

"We also want to thank Josh Harris and his team at the US Embassy in Baghdad for the support they provided to our sister and the team at the nonprofit Global Reach who advocated relentlessly for my sister's safe return," she stressed.