The famous pond in the resort town of New Athos in Abkhazia has turned into a “rotten lake” — at least, that’s how its current state is being described by Telegram channels. A video shared on social media shows just how polluted the New Athos pond has become.
This artificial pond, alongside the New Athos Monastery, is a symbol of the city and one of Abkhazia’s main tourist attractions.
It is also known as Swan Lake, as both white and black swans live in it.
The pond — or more accurately, a series of interconnected ponds — was created in 1880 by the monks of the New Athos Monastery for everyday use. They dug seven basins about 1.5 meters deep, lined the bottoms with stone tiles, and filled them with water from the Psyrtskha River. The monks bred carp, crucian carp, and trout there. Around the ponds, they planted weeping willows, poplars, and palm trees. In 1908, a park was laid out on the site, designed by architect Shervinsky.
The system was designed so that the ponds remain flowing — and therefore clean. However, they still need to be periodically cleared of accumulated silt. During the Soviet era, this was done once every two years. Now, that frequency is clearly no longer sufficient — the ponds need to be cleaned at least once a year.
According to Roman Dbar, director of the Institute of Ecology of Abkhazia, the problem stems from pollution of the Psyrtskha River due to the discharge of wastewater from resort facilities and the lack of a proper sewage system in New Athos.
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As of May 1 this year, the total amount of credit investments by financial institutions in Azerbaijan amounted to 29.9 billion manat, with overdue loans totaling 502.6 million manat, Azernews reports, citing the Central Bank of Azerbaijan (CBA).
The mother of journalist Ulviyya Ali (Guliyeva), who has been under arrest for 23 days, Ilhama Guliyeva, has expressed concern over her daughter’s condition. Speaking to JAMnews, she said that Ulviyya has still not undergone a medical examination during all this time.
Ulviyya Ali was violently detained in the early hours of 7 May 2024 by officers from the Baku City Police Department. On the same day, a search was carried out at her home, and the Khatai District Court ruled to place her in pre-trial detention for 1 month and 29 days.
Since her detention, the journalist has been reporting serious health issues. In a letter sent to the JAMnews editorial office, she wrote that the effects of the violence inflicted on her during her arrest persist: “Every day I suffer from headaches, nausea, dizziness, and blurred vision. I suspect that the violence caused even more serious damage to my health.”
Ульвия Али | фото: из личного архива
According to Ilhama Guliyeva, she has submitted three complaints to the Ombudsman’s Office during this time. However, none of them has received an official response. During her most recent call, she was told that “a reply to the complaint can only be issued within 15 days.”
“Telling someone in urgent need of medical care that the response will come in 15 days is a mockery — of me, of my daughter, of human life itself. Is my daughter supposed to die in prison?” the mother asks.
The arrest of Ulviyya Ali is seen as part of a growing crackdown on independent journalists in Azerbaijan. As part of an investigation launched in December 2024 into Meydan TV — known as the “Meydan case” — nine journalists have already been arrested.
They face charges of “smuggling.” Among those detained are Ramin Deko (Jabrayilzade), Aynur Ganbarova (Elgunes), Aysel Umudova, Aytaj Akhmedova (Tapdyg), Khayala Agayeva, Natig Javadli, Shamshad Aga, Nurlan Libre, and Fatima Mevlamli.
Meydan TV has stated that the arrests target the outlet’s critical journalism and its staff.
As part of the investigation into the stabbing of the president of Azerbaijan’s Muay Thai Federation, Araz Musayev, who was seriously injured during the IFMA U23 Elite World Championship in the Kemer district (Antalya), six suspects have been detained — one of them in Russia.
The incident occurred on 25 May in the village of Goynuk, at the Ataturk sports hall where the competition was taking place. At around 3:00 p.m., Araz Musayev sustained two stab wounds to the abdomen and a blow to the head.
The medical team on duty at the venue provided first aid, after which Musayev was taken first to Kemer State Hospital and then to Antalya City Hospital. He underwent surgery and is now in stable condition, with no threat to his life.
Araz Musayev (left) and Adil Aliyev (right) | Photo: Teleqraf and Zartonk
Musayev’s accusation: “They sent a hitman”
In an interview with Unikal, Araz Musayev said the incident was not accidental and accused federation rivals and personal enemies of orchestrating the attack:
“The World Championship is taking place in Antalya. Azer Hasansoy (former president of the Azerbaijan Kickboxing Federation) and Elshen Abdulrahimov (head coach of the Azerbaijan Kickboxing Federation) were sent here to take the federation away from me. They came, but failed. On the contrary, the kickboxing federation was handed over to me by the international community. After that, they tried to provoke a fight, but when that didn’t work, they sent a hitman — and I was stabbed.”
Musayev added that due to unlawful decisions made by Youth and Sports Ministry official Elnur Mamedov, who “has no understanding of these sports,” the World Muay Thai Federation decided to transfer kickboxers under the control of the Muay Thai Federation.
He said he underwent serious surgery due to stab wounds to the head and body, as well as a blow with brass knuckles. His condition is currently considered moderate. According to Musayev, some of those behind the attack were sent from Russia, and he had been prepared for such a threat in advance.
Response to accusations: “We do not accept, we condemn”
The Azerbaijan Kickboxing Federation has responded to Araz Musayev’s allegations, stating that neither Azer Hasansoy nor Elshen Abdulrahimov had any connection to the individuals who carried out the attack:
“As a federation, we condemn the attack on Araz Musayev.”
Since 2000, the president of the Azerbaijan Kickboxing Federation has been Adil Aliyev, who currently heads the Executive Authority of the Surakhany district and is a former member of parliament. Adil Aliyev is unofficially accused in Europe, particularly in Germany, of involvement in attacks on independent voices and businessmen on behalf of the Azerbaijani state and in the interests of Ilham Aliyev. Although no legal proceedings have been launched over this, it remains a widely discussed topic among both opposition figures and those in power.
CCTV footage and detained suspects
Surveillance camera footage shows Araz Musayev waiting at the entrance to the venue when a man approaches him and punches him, causing Musayev to fall to the ground.
At the instruction of the Kemer prosecutor’s office, an investigation has been launched by the district gendarmerie. Based on Musayev’s testimony and investigative measures, the identities of seven suspects have been established. The Azerbaijani national A.H., suspected of organising the attack, has been detained in the Kemer district.
Other suspects — Uzbek nationals A.R., K.K., and E.B., as well as Azerbaijani citizens M.I.G., F.B., and R.S. — are currently under surveillance. It was discovered that some of them attempted to flee after the incident by renting a car, changing their clothes, shaving their hair and beards, and then taking a taxi to Antalya airport.
Azerbaijan exported $29.1 million worth of electricity in the first four months of 2025 — a decrease of $18.5 million or 38.9% compared to the same period last year, Azernews reports, citing the Center for Analysis of Economic Reforms and Communication (CAERC). According to the received report, during the same period in 2024, electricity exports totaled…
