Israeli-Russian researcher Elizabeth Tsurkov, kidnapped in Iraq by the Kataib Hezbollah militia last March and whose case became public this week, was already taking several precautions when traveling to the country, her sister Emma Tsurkov told Al-Monitor, emphasizing that her sibling was aware of the risks involved for an Israeli national to visit Iraq.
Emma, speaking on the phone from her residence in California, said she last spoke to her 36-year-old sister on March 20.
"Elizabeth apparently disappeared on March 21 or 22. The day before, I spoke with her on the phone. It was a usual conversation, like the ones we had practically every day,” Emma said.
In their last conversation, Emma didn't suspect any cause for alarm. It was another one of their chats about her work and the interviews she was doing overseas. “The day after, I sent her on WhatsApp pictures of my son, her beloved nephew. When the hours passed and she did not respond to the pictures, I knew something was wrong."
