President Trump and the Iraqi government announced on Tuesday that Elizabeth Tulkov, an Israeli-Russian citizen, permanent US resident, and Princeton graduate student, has been released after being held by the Iraqi terrorist group Kataib Hezbollah for over 900 days.
In a post on True Social, Trump noted that the release was facilitated by efforts from the American Embassy in Iraq. Iraqi Prime Minister Mohamed Shea “Al Sudani” credited security agencies for their months-long work leading to her freedom.
Tulkov had been in Iraq for academic research when she was lured by an Iran-backed militia group in March 2023.
Her sister, Emma Tulkov, an American citizen, expressed immense joy at the news. In April 2024, she confronted the Iraqi Prime Minister during an event at the Atlantic Council, and earlier in February, she made a personal appeal to Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkov, at a US Jewish Commission event, advocating tirelessly for her sister’s release.
Emma also acknowledged Trump’s special envoy, Adam Berer, for playing a critical role in securing Elizabeth’s freedom. “We can’t wait to meet Elizabeth and give her all the love she’s been waiting to share for 903 days,” she stated.
She expressed gratitude towards President Trump and Berer, emphasizing that without Berer’s commitment to her sister’s mission, their fate might have been uncertain. She also appreciated the support from the US Embassy in Baghdad, which helped ensure the safety of her and her family.
Global Reach, a nonprofit focused on assisting individuals inadvertently detained abroad, also commented on the situation. CEO Mickey Bergman described it as a day of collective anticipation, underscoring the importance of their involvement.
“Elizabeth is a graduate student at Princeton,” Bergman noted. “She is an innocent researcher who was engaged in doctoral fieldwork when she was approached by Kataib Hezbollah.”
The Israeli Embassy in Washington, DC has not yet responded to requests for comment.
