"Steam & Release": Phtographers' Delight - Horses and Buffaloes Enjoying a Hot Spring Bath, in Freezing Bitlis

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Anatolia News Agency website, 14 February 2026)

                                Everyone into the pool!

Photography enthusiasts from various provinces of Türkiye are coming 

to Güroymak district of Bitlis to photograph the buffaloes and horses 

entering the hot springs in Budaklı village, where air temperatures 

can drop to -20 degrees Celsius. The buffaloes and horses, unable to 

leave their stables due to the harsh winter conditions, are brought to 

the hot springs by their owners at regular intervals to be washed in the

40 degree Celsius water.

Rıdvan Süslü, a photographer from Van, told an AA reporter that the 

hot springs are a popular destination for tourists in both summer and 

winter.  Süslü explained that villagers bring their animals to the hot 

springs to clean them after they have been kept in barns for long 

periods in winter, and continued:

"Every year, we visit this place during periods of heavy snowfall to 

take photographs. We have come here many times, but we never get 

enough. We know that many photographs taken here have won awards 

not only in our country but also worldwide. It is very valuable for the 

people of the region. We travel hundreds of kilometers to get here.

Although the conditions are difficult, we always enjoy this place 

immensely. This is a place that could become a popular destination 

for photography enthusiasts and those interested in photography."

Mustafa Kılıç, a photographer from Mardin, stated that the region 

has beauties that will attract photography enthusiasts.  He explained 

that they captured an unparalleled event in this unique region, saying,

"We are in a place where animals enter the water, and children and 

young people have fun jumping into the water from the backs of 

horses.  

With the photos we take here, we are both enriching our 

archive and capturing unique photographic moments. I invite all 

photographers from Turkey and abroad to come here. A unique 

visual spectacle is created in the hot springs where horses and 

buffaloes enter. Photographers from all over Türkiye are capturing 

the beauties of this place in their photographs."

"Dismember & Release": Uzbek House of Horrors, in Ümraniye

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 13 February 2026)

                     They're not in Taşken anymore...

The scale of the brutality in Ümraniye has escalated to a series of 

murders. Two perpetrators, who killed their Uzbek girlfriends in the 

same house on consecutive days, dismembered their bodies, transported 

them by taxi, and dumped them in garbage containers in different 

districts, were released from prison and questioned again.

It has been revealed that Dilshod Turdimurotov (30) and his roommate 

Gofurjon Kamalkhodaev, who murdered Durdona Khakimova (37), an 

Uzbek national, with a knife on January 24th in Ümraniye, Istanbul, 

and left her body parts in garbage containers in Şişli, had also 

murdered Ergashalieva Seyyare (32), an Uzbek national, in the same 

manner one day before this murder and left her body parts in garbage 

containers in different districts of Istanbul.

In the horrific incident that occurred on January 24, 2026, in 

Kuyulubağ Street, Şişli, a woman's body wrapped in sheets and bags 

was found in a garbage container by a scrap collector. As a result of 

the investigation, it was determined that the body belonged to Durdona 

Khakimova, an Uzbek national who worked at a hunting supplies shop 

in Fatih. Further investigations revealed that Khakimova was murdered 

by her boyfriend, Dilshod Turdimurotov, who had called her to his 

house in Ümraniye on the day of the incident. He then dismembered her

body with the help of her roommate, Kamalkhodaev, put the pieces in 

a suitcase, and left them in garbage containers in Şişli after taking a 

taxi there.

Following a report from her family, police teams examining security 

camera footage related to Ergashalieva Seyyare, an Uzbek national 

who was reported missing, determined that she was last seen entering 

the same house in Ümraniye on January 23, 2026, the day before 

Durdona Khakimova was murdered. As a result of police 

investigations into suspected serial murders, it was determined that 

Turdimurotov and Kamalkhodaev first killed Seyyare in the same 

house and in the same manner.

It was learned that the two perpetrators, who killed Ergashalieva 

Seyyare with a knife and dismembered her head and limbs in the 

bathroom the day before killing Durdona Khakimova, wrapped the 

body parts in sheets, placed them in suitcases, and then, using a 

rented car with a driver, dumped them in garbage containers in different 

neighborhoods of Istanbul. The two murder suspects, who were released 

from prison on the orders of the prosecutor's office, were questioned 

again.

The two murder suspects, who were released from prison and 

questioned again on the orders of the prosecutor's office, confessed

to killing Seyyare with a knife and disposing of her body in different

 containers. Turdimurotov and Kamalkhodaev, against whom a new 

investigation has been launched for 'intentional homicide', will be 

brought to court today.

"Exploit & Release": Epstein's "Lolita Express" Aircraft Flew to Turkey Nine Times

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Sözcü Newspaper, 12 February 2026)

                     

Among the files exposed concerning child-exploiter Jeffrey Epstein

are those that reflect his trips to Turkey.   In particular, Epstein's

Boing 727 aircraft, nicknamed "Lolita Express" (!), came to Istanbul

and Antalya nine times and once flew from Istanbul to Tel Aviv. 

While in Turkey, Epstein stayed at the lavish Rixos Hotel, owned

by Fettah Tamince. According to İYİ Party group chief Turhan Çömez:

"Since 2008, a total of 104, 531 children disappeared in Turkey.  It

is claimed that the $200 million transferred to Turkey from Epstein's 

bank account was used for human trafficking." 

Next stop Antalya!

"Annoy & Persist": Old Folks' Home Resident in Istanbul Harassed Famous Singer With Love Messages and Videos

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Sözcü Newspaper, 11 February 2026)

His longed-for May-December romance ain't gonna happen.

Tuğba Tufantepe (42), a vocalist for Superstar Ajda Pekkan and a 

soloist who sings in the Tarık Sezer orchestra, filed a police 

complaint because of inappropriate videos and messages sent to her. 

The harasser turned out to be Özkan B. (66), a resident of an old 

folks' home in Istanbul (!). 

The public prosecutor has requested a jail sentence of up to 2 years

for Özkan B., who has admitted sending the messages, but who 

claimed that the videos could have been sent by any one of the 600 

residents in the old folks' home.   

As for Tuğba hanım, who lives in Dubai, she stated that she was

fed up with receiving the unwanted "my love, my baby" (!) 

messages.

His other targets have complained too!

"Pierce & Release": Thief Used Forklift to Break Into Jewelry Store, in Kayseri

 türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Sabah Newspaper, 10 February 2026)

           Forklift arrested for breaking and entering.

In Melikgazi district of Kayseri, a masked thief, using a forklift (!), 

believed to be stolen, broke into a jewelry store by smashing the shutters. 

Unable to take the safe alone, the thief managed to steal 150 grams of 

jewelry before disappearing. 

The incident occurred on Tekin Street in the İldem Cumhuriyet 

neighborhood of Melikgazi district. The masked thief, whose identity is 

yet unknown, arrived at the jewelry store at night using a forklift. 

After breaking through the shutters with the machine,  the thief entered 

the store and headed for the safes.

However (!), upon the activation of the alarm, numerous police teams 

were dispatched to the area. Arriving quickly, the teams secured the area 

and conducted an investigation. The investigation revealed that the thief 

panicked when he realized he couldn't take the safe alone and fled with 

150 grams of jewelry.

Police teams are investigating the possibility that the forklift used in the

robbery may also be stolen. Security camera footage is being examined, 

and a large-scale operation has been launched to apprehend the fleeing 

suspect. The investigation into the incident is ongoing.

"Dump & Release": Vegan Activist Throws Fisherman's Catch Into the Sea, on Galata Bridge, Istanbul

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Haberler.com website, 9 February 2026)

                                   Something's fishy.

On the Galata Bridge, a woman identifying herself as "vegan" dumped 

the bucket of approximately 2.5 kilograms of "istavrit" horse mackerel 

belonging to 65-year-old Ahmet Gökçebay, who was fishing, into the 

sea. Using disrespectful language such as "I'll put one in your bucket," 

the woman fled the scene without paying the elderly man the promised 

money.

The shocking incident occurred early this morning on Istanbul's Galata 

Bridge. Despite the cold, 65-year-old Ahmet Gökçebay, who had arrived 

at the bridge at 7:00 AM to fish, caught approximately 2.5 kilograms of 

horse mackerel by midday.

An unidentified woman approached Gökçebay and offered to buy the 

fish. Gökçebay accepted the offer. Shortly afterward, the woman, 

claiming to be vegan, took the bucket full of fish and emptied it into 

the sea. This action led to an argument between the woman and the 

fisherman.

Gökçebay, who had caught the fish, reacted angrily, saying he had waited 

for hours in the cold and put in a lot of effort. He confronted the woman, 

saying, "By what right do you throw my fish into the sea?" to which the 

woman responded disrespectfully, "I'll put one in your place."

According to ATV News, the woman, who emphasized that she was 

vegan during the argument, defended herself by saying, "Don't eat 

animals, produce alternatives." Citizens in the vicinity stated that they 

did not approve of interfering with someone else's work in this way. 

As the argument escalated, the woman quickly left the scene.

After throwing the fish into the sea, which she had initially promised 

Gökçebay she would pay for, the woman said, "I don't have any money," 

and didn't pay. Taking advantage of the tension, she ran away.

"Beat & Return": Mercenary Who Killed Russian Wife and Daughter in Bodrum in 2023, Brought Back to Turkey

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 8 February 2026)

              One big happy family...once upon a time.

Andrej Kuslevic, the mercenary who murdered his ex-wife, Russian 

Irina Dvizova, and their daughter, Dayana Dvizova, in Bodrum three 

years ago and dumped their bodies in rugged terrain, had fled abroad. 

Kuslevic, for whom two life sentences with aggravated circumstances 

were sought, was apprehended in Germany and extradited to Turkey 

the day before yesterday.

Relatives of Russian national Irina Dvizova (42), who was engaged in 

real estate buying and selling in Bodrum district of Muğla, and her 

daughter Dayana (15), went to their house on November 23, 2023, 

after being unable to reach them. Breaking down the door, they found 

bloodstains on the sofa, which they believed belonged to the mother 

and daughter. Following a report from the relatives, police teams, 

using camera footage, found the bodies of the mother and daughter 

wrapped in sheets, 3 meters apart, on a steep slope by the roadside. 

It was determined that the murder was committed by Irina Dvizova's 

former mercenary husband, Andrej Kuslevic (49). It was also 

determined that Kuslevic fled to Lithuania with his young son after 

the incident.

David Dvizova, the eldest of Irina Dvizova's three children, and 

other relatives, who are in a difficult financial situation, started a 

fundraising campaign in Russia to bring the bodies of his mother 

and sister back to their country. After the donations were collected, 

Dvizova and his relatives flew from Russia to Muğla on December 13, 

2023. After completing the official procedures at the Forensic 

Medicine Institute, Dvizova took the bodies of his mother and sister

to Antalya Airport in a private hearse.

It was reported that there were disagreements between Dvizova and 

Kuslevic regarding the custody of their 5-year-old son. Furthermore, 

it was revealed that Irina Dvizova was hit by three bullets – in the 

head, ear, and shoulder – and her daughter, Dayana Dvizova, was 

hit by two bullets – in the neck and chest.

Andrej Kuslevic, for whom an Interpol red notice had been issued, 

was apprehended and arrested in Germany. The Bodrum Public 

Prosecutor's Office prepared an indictment against Kuslevic for 

"premeditated murder of a child or a person unable to defend 

themselves physically or mentally" and "intentional murder of his 

divorced wife," seeking two aggravated life sentences. 

The indictment was accepted by the Bodrum 2nd High Criminal 

Court. Kuslevic was extradited to Turkey the previous day and 

arrested at Istanbul Airport. Kuslevic gave his initial statement via 

SEGBIS (a video conferencing system) at the Bodrum 2nd High 

Criminal Court. Kuslevic, who denied the accusations, said, 

"I am sure I am innocent. (!) I want this situation to end as soon as

possible." Andrej Kuslevic will be brought to Bodrum for the 

hearing scheduled for April 1.