Footage circulating online shows the last moments before the abduction of Israeli-Russian researcher Elizabeth Tsurkov in Baghdad. A video captured by surveillance cameras shows Tsurkov leaving a cafe in the Karada district of the Iraqi capital accompanied by a man shortly before her kidnapping.
In another video, Tsurkov speaks about her visit to Sadr City and the figure of Moqtada al-Sadr, the leader of the Sadrist movement in Iraq. During an interview with a reporter from a street in Baghdad while wearing a hijab, she stated that "Friday prayers in Sadr City is a historical event with roots dating back to the 1990s," noting that "this city is internationally known as a place where revolutions and uprisings against any oppressor are born."
She also spoke about Moqtada al-Sadr, saying, "Moqtada al-Sadr is a national figure who rejects the interventions of Western and Arab countries," adding, "In my opinion, this should be the stance of every Iraqi political leader; they should care for their country."
Tsurkov expressed her wish that "if only all the politicians in Iraq cared as much about the interests of Iraq and its people." When asked by the reporter, "Are you a Muslim?" she replied, "No, I am not a Muslim," indicating she attended Friday prayers at a mosque in Sadr City.
It is noted that Tsurkov is multilingual, including proficiency in Arabic, and her published research indicates her interest in following security events and armed factions in Syria and the Middle East.
