A video purportedly showing the Russian-Israeli academic Elizabeth Churkov, who was kidnapped last March in Iraq, was broadcast today by the Iraqi television network Al Rabiaa.

The Reuters news agency emphasizes that it is unable to verify the authenticity of the video, pointing out that if confirmed it would be the first images of Churkov since her abduction about seven months ago.

According to Al Rabiaa, the video shows Churkov sitting in a room delivering a message in Hebrew, criticizing Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip and “confessing” that she was acting as a spy when she was captured.

The US Princeton University had announced that Churkov was in Iraq “conducting research related to the topic of her doctoral thesis”.

In July, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said Churkov had been abducted by the Iraqi branch of pro-Iranian Hezbollah, making Baghdad responsible for the hostage’s safety.

The Iraqi government has launched an investigation into her abduction. In September, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani said in an interview with the New York Times that it was not clear who was behind the kidnapping, which he admitted was a blow to his country’s image.