Request for prisoners: when will the Russian woman abducted in Iraq be released

Elizaveta Tsurkova, a citizen of Russia and Israel, may be released from captivity in the near future. In March 2023, she was engaged in scientific research in Iraq, where she was abducted by a local armed group. In exchange for her release, Israel is discussing the release of arrested members of the pro-Iranian Hezbollah movement and a captain of the Lebanese Marine Corps. A Lebanese source familiar with the negotiations told Izvestia that the issue of exchanging Tsurkova was "the subject of serious discussions." The deal is complicated by Tehran's demand for the release of an Iranian accused of murdering an American teacher as part of the deal.

The Russian woman can be exchanged as part of a large-scale deal.

The issue of the release of Elizaveta Tsurkova, a citizen of Russia and Israel, is "the subject of serious discussions," a Lebanese source familiar with the negotiations told Izvestia. In exchange for her release, several members of the Lebanese Hezbollah group and a Lebanese officer who are in Israeli captivity are expected to be released, local media reported. Tsurkova has been held by an armed group in Iraq since March 2023.

Dmitry Gendelman, adviser to the Israeli Prime Minister, did not confirm the fact of a possible deal in an interview with Izvestia.

"We do not comment on information regarding possible agreements on humanitarian or other issues, especially when it comes to the fate of specific individuals," he said.

At the same time, Gendelman stressed that "Israel is making constant efforts at various levels and in close coordination with partners for the return of its citizens."

Information about the possible implementation of such a deal first appeared against the background of the intensification of indirect negotiations between Iran and the United States on the nuclear program. According to the publication Amwaj.media, we are talking about an exchange format involving Iraq, Iran and Israel. The subject of the agreement should be Elizaveta Tsurkova, six members of Hezbollah, a Lebanese officer and an Iranian citizen arrested in Iraq on charges of murdering an American.

Tsurkova, an employee of Princeton University, was abducted in Baghdad, where she was engaged in field research. She was captured by one of the Iraqi groups linked to Iran. Since her abduction, diplomatic efforts have been underway to free her. According to Amwaj.media sources, one of the Gulf states tried to establish mediation with the group, but came across a demand for a significant ransom.

In July 2023, the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that Tsurkova was being held by the Kataib Hezbollah group in Iraq. They also reported that she had entered the country on a Russian passport to carry out scientific work.

Survivor: Russian Trufanov spent 498 days in captivity in Gaza

Russia expressed gratitude to the Palestinian side for the release of the citizen

The exchange formula

According to Amwaj.media, interest in the fate of Tsurkova was again expressed by one of the Persian Gulf states at the beginning of 2025, already under the new administration in the United States. Then, in addition to releasing Hezbollah members, Israel was asked to release Imad Amhaz, a captain in the Lebanese Marine Corps who was captured by Israeli special forces in November 2024 near the city of Batrun. The Israeli side has stated that Amhaz is in charge of Hezbollah's naval forces, but the group itself denies this.

Additionally, the name of Mohammad Reza Nuri, presumably a member of the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, appears in the deal. He was arrested in Iraq in March 2023 on charges of organizing the murder of American teacher Stephen Troell, who was shot dead in Baghdad in November 2022. Iran has denied the US accusations against its citizen.

Lebanese journalist Hussein Ayoub reported that discussions on the exchange began after the end of the war in Lebanon. According to him, the formula was initially considered: Tsurkov in exchange for prisoners from Hezbollah. The Lebanese Movement has handed over a list of 15 people held in Israeli captivity. However, as the journalist noted, this is not the final figure, since the number of missing persons in Lebanon is much higher. After that, Iranian representatives joined the negotiations. They demanded that the release of Mohammad Reza Al-Nuri be included in the deal. According to Ayub, "this dossier is still on the table."

The United States is also actively involved in attempts to secure the release of Tsurkova. According to sources in the Times of Israel, Adam Boiler, the US special representative for hostage affairs, threatened the Iraqi authorities with political and economic consequences in March if they did not ensure the transfer of Tsurkova.

Al-Hadath TV channel, citing Iraqi officials, reported that "it was proposed to transfer Elizabeth to a neutral party before her release in order to avoid internal problems."

According to the France-Presse news agency, the implementation of the deal also depends on the approval of the American side for the release of Mohammad Reza Al-Nuri, accused of murdering an American. At the same time, three Iraqi sources stressed that the United States has not yet agreed to the transfer of the Iranian prisoner.

A major diplomatic shift in the region could serve as a turning point in the development of the situation. Since the beginning of 2025, Oman has been providing a platform for dialogue between Iran and the United States, acting as a neutral mediator in efforts to resolve the Iranian nuclear issue. Although these negotiations have not yet resulted in a deal, the atmosphere they have created may be an important factor in creating conditions for an exchange.