Booker, Rosen, Kim, and Schiff Joint Statement Marking Two Years Since Elizabeth Tsurkov’s Abduction in Iraq

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Andy Kim (D-NJ), and Adam Schiff (D-CA) issued the following joint statement:

“As champions of human rights and freedom, as well as those wrongfully detained and held hostage all over the world, we call for the immediate and safe release of Elizabeth Tsurkov. Friday marked two years since Elizabeth, an Israeli-Russian citizen and Ph.D. candidate at Princeton University, was kidnapped in Baghdad by Kata’ib Hezbollah (KH), an Iranian-backed foreign terrorist organization. Ms. Tsurkov is a vocal and principled expert, journalist, and political scientist who traveled to Iraq to conduct fieldwork for her doctoral dissertation on strategies to reduce conflict and foster peace in the Middle East. We are deeply concerned about Elizabeth’s health and wellbeing and urge the Government of Iraq and all other regional governments that have influence and leverage to swiftly help secure her release on humanitarian grounds. There is no justification for hostage taking and it is horrifically egregious to kidnap a brave advocate for peace and coexistence in the region.”

Senator Booker continues to advocate for the release of Elizabeth Tsurkov, a Ph.D. candidate at Princeton University in New Jersey. Today, the two New Jersey Senators, Cory Booker and Andy Kim, sent a letter to President Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Steven Witkoff, Special Envoy to the Middle East, requesting an update on the Administration’s efforts seeking Ms. Tsurkov’s safe release.

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