The Lawfare Podcast: Elizabeth Tsurkov on Her Captivity in Iraq

Date: January 28, 2026
Host: Benjamin Wittes
Guest: Elizabeth Tsurkov (Princeton PhD candidate; Israeli–Russian scholar)
(Note: Tsurkov is occasionally introduced by her Russian passport name, Elizabeth Zerkoff, in the episode.)

Episode Overview

This episode features a harrowing and insightful interview with Elizabeth Tsurkov, who spent 903 days captive in Iraq after being kidnapped by Kataib Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed militia. Tsurkov—recently released—discusses the circumstances of her kidnapping, her sociological observations of her captors, the politics around her ordeal, her family’s legacy of dissidence, and the complex international and personal factors that led to her eventual release.

The conversation is by turns haunting, darkly comedic, and intellectually rich—a rare firsthand account of both the inner workings and the worldview of Iraq’s militant groups, as well as the complicated politics of contemporary hostage rescue.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Power of Humor and Satire in Captivity

• Writing as Resistance: Tsurkov describes drafting her Atlantic article, “I Was Kidnapped By Idiots,” during her captivity, using humor as a mental survival tool and as a form of resistance to her captors' claims to power.
  • [03:59] “The article is titled I Was Kidnapped by Idiots...humor helped me stay sane while inside...there is an element of vindictiveness to this article.” — Elizabeth Tsurkov
• Denting the Aura of Terror: She notes that mocking her captors undermined their sense of power, comparing the impact to the work of Iraqi comedian Ahmed Al Bashir, a figure widely targeted by militias for lampooning them.
  • [07:57] “They are, however, very displeased with being found out to be morons.”

Family History: Dissidence and the Weapon of Jokes

• A Legacy of Satire: Both parents were dissidents in the USSR; her mother was imprisoned for subversive activities, including collecting and sharing political jokes—a nonviolent but potent means of resistance.
  • [12:40] “The article in the law that she was sentenced for was...spreading lies about the common Soviet order. And the lies are the jokes, basically.” — Elizabeth Tsurkov
• Jokes on Trial: During interrogations, her mother was forced to tell the jokes to officials.
  • [13:02] “They tried to avoid laughing...but the jokes are genuinely funny. So they just started laughing.” — Elizabeth Tsurkov

Fieldwork, Kidnapping, and the Mechanics of Abduction

• Research in Iraq: Tsurkov was in Iraq for her PhD fieldwork (comparing the Sadrist movement in Iraq and a Christian party in Lebanon) when she was kidnapped during her seventh research visit.
  • [15:38] She describes immersion through networks among protesters and Sadrists, unwittingly exposing herself to militia informants.
• How She Was Targeted: Her captors initially believed she was American or Russian, only discovering her Israeli identity later—triggering more brutal torture and forced confessions.
  • [19:26] “Exactly. They didn’t know that I’m Israeli. They actually thought at first that I’m American because I’m coming from a US university.”

Language Skills and Integration

• Becoming Fluent in Arabic: She details how she learned Arabic in order to follow the Arab Spring and communicate with activists, picking up regional dialects through close friendships and, even in captivity, through books.
  • [25:09] “During the second part of my captivity...I was given books in Arabic...and basically had an opportunity...to also improve my classical Arabic...”

On-the-Ground Sociology: Inside Kataib Hezbollah

• Observing Captors’ Morale: Tsurkov tracked the shifting morale of her captors, from euphoria after October 7th, 2023 ("the most joyous I’ve ever seen them") to demoralization as military setbacks and humiliations mounted.
  • [29:14-37:57] Key transitions:
    • Joy at Hamas’s attack and belief in Israeli collapse.
    • Disillusionment following US strikes, failed military operations, and the assassination of militia commanders.
    • Existential humiliation: “We bought the explosives that blew us up.”
• Unintentional Analyst: She began writing analytical memos for her captors, becoming an involuntary think-tank and firsthand observer of their worldview.
  • [37:11] “So they basically kidnapped a think tank.” — Interviewer
  • [37:14] “Exactly. It was unpaid labor, but it actually kept my mind busy.” — Elizabeth Tsurkov
• Consent for Research: She managed to conduct (oral) interviews with some captors for her research, exploiting her circumstances to better understand Shia militia psychology.
  • [44:38] “I got oral consent from two of my captors to conduct interviews with them for my PhD.”

Politics of Hostage Negotiation: Israel, Russia, the US

• Lack of Action from Israel and Russia: Israel saw her as a low priority due to her activism and politics; Russia dismissed her as “a waste of oxygen” due to her criticisms of its foreign policy.
  • [46:59] “[The Russian government] said that I’m basically a waste of oxygen. It’s better if I die.”
  • [49:27] “The political climate, the fact that I went into Iraq willingly...reduced the motivation of Israel to work for my release.”
• US Response: The Biden administration considered her “not their responsibility” as a non-citizen; real action only began when Trump was (re-)elected, with threats and personal diplomacy forcing the Iraqi government’s hand.
  • [52:10] “I genuinely believe that if Trump had not been elected, I would have just died there in captivity.”
  • [55:19] “They genuinely fear Trump...I noticed during torture sessions when Trump came up...they were incredibly...terrified of him.”
  • [56:35] “Mark [Zavaya]...told Sudani, I want you to convey a message...that if Elizabeth is not released within a week, guys will be killed. And that Trump is pissed. And he even gave him two photos...Trump looking angry.”

Personal Ethics and Politics: Embracing Complexity

• Non-Ideological Commitment: Tsurkov situates herself as a human rights advocate first, refusing to be boxed in by simplistic left-right or legalist categories.
  • [59:32] “I would say that my core commitment is to human rights...I don’t fit neatly into any kind of category...for me it is very important...to acknowledge the suffering of these individuals.”
• Pragmatism about Force: She pushes back on pacifism and legalism when dealing with regimes/militias: the rights of states “shouldn’t trump the rights of millions of human beings they oppress.”
  • [63:20] “When it serves an interest that advances human rights, I don’t see why the rights of a state, meaning a regime, trump the rights of millions of human beings they oppress.”

Aftermath and Lessons Learned

• Continuing with Purpose: Tsurkov is working to finish her dissertation—much of it conceptualized during captivity—and wants to remain immersed in research and policy, now with greater resolve.
  • [65:12] “I’m very determined to finish my dissertation...this commitment is only been reinforced after...experiencing [torture] myself.”
• The Power of Activism: The campaign waged by her sister and other activists—including a viral confrontation with the Iraqi Prime Minister—produced real pressure and action.
  • [69:13] “That became a crazy meme in Iraq. One of my captors told me about it while I was in captivity.”
  • [70:34] “They were making an effort actually to get me out...they felt that this is an issue that matters and they didn’t like being embarrassed.”
  • The decision to release her, she says, stemmed from mounting external pressure and captors’ fear for their own safety once direct threats began.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Deflating Terrorist Power:
  • [08:05] “They are, however, very displeased with being found out to be morons.” — Elizabeth Tsurkov
• On Satire as Resistance:
  • [13:02] “They tried to avoid laughing...but the jokes are genuinely funny.” — Elizabeth Tsurkov
• On Researching in Dangerous Places:
  • [26:11] “I think that I’m not a widely known figure...the name on my passport...if someone has access to my passport and Googles my name, they will not find anything that links.” — Elizabeth Tsurkov
• On Captors’ Shifting Morale:
  • [29:14] “October 7th was really the most joyous I’ve ever seen my captors...They thought this is an amazing victory.” — Elizabeth Tsurkov
  • [37:57] “We bought the explosives that blew us up...it really undermines this kind of driving force, the sense of enjoyment, of being part of the scare group...” — Elizabeth Tsurkov
• On Unpaid Think-Tank Labor:
  • [37:14] “Exactly. It was unpaid labor that I was performing for them, but it actually kept my mind busy. So I enjoyed this process intellectually.” — Elizabeth Tsurkov
• On Political Complexity:
  • [59:32] “I think I would say that my core commitment is to human rights...I don’t fit neatly into any kind of category too well.” — Elizabeth Tsurkov
• On the Impact of Activism:
  • [70:50] “In this experience I really saw a great deal of evil...but I also saw so much goodness in people, in utter strangers, who really worked very, very hard for my release.” — Elizabeth Tsurkov

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [03:59] Tsurkov: Writing the “kidnapped by idiots” essay in her head during torture.
• [12:55] Her mother’s imprisonment for jokes; satire as resistance in the Soviet Union.
• [15:38] Why and how Tsurkov went to Iraq; research context.
• [19:26] Initial kidnapping: captors’ assumptions and the discovery she was Israeli.
• [25:09] Acquiring Arabic proficiency, especially in captivity.
• [29:14] Captors’ reactions after October 7th; analysis of their joy and later disillusionment.
• [37:14] Writing intelligence analysis for her captors.
• [44:38] Conducting interviews with captors for her PhD research.
• [46:59] Diplomatic and governmental inaction or hostility (Israel, Russia); eventual effectiveness of US action after Trump’s return.
• [56:35] Trump’s threats leading to her release.
• [59:32] Discussion of political commitments and the complexity of human rights advocacy.
• [65:12] Plans for the future: dissertation, policy involvement, personal impact of trauma.
• [69:13 – 74:53] Family and friends’ activism: viral meme, real-world impact on Iraqi government action.

Final Thoughts

This episode offers more than a tale of survival—it’s a window into the psychology of terrorist groups, the limits and leverage of international diplomacy, the complexities of Middle Eastern politics, and the enduring personal power of humor, analysis, and moral clarity under extreme duress.

Elizabeth Tsurkov’s story foregrounds not only her own grit and intellect, but the real agency of family members, activists, and the unpredictable interplay of global and personal politics in matters of life and death. Her unwavering commitment to testimony and rights—regardless of ideology or tribe—offers a rare and inspiring example for listeners of all backgrounds.