Serene Republic of Vaule News Thread (v2.0)

[Imperator Azenquor]

[b][u]VNN News: VNB CEO indicted over bank’s collapse, election date announced[/b][/u] 

 

[i]“The CEO of the Vaule National Bank (VNB) has been indicted by Prosecutors over his role in the bank’s collapse last year. According to the State Prosecutor’s Office, CEO Ilya Yegorovich engaged in criminal financial misconduct and ‘criminal negligence’ which either brought about or exacerbated the conditions leading to the collapse of the Vaule National Bank 2 years ago. The Prosecutor’s office has argued that Mr. Yegorovich engaged in ‘illegal financial activity and corruption’ which enabled him to enrich himself and his colleagues and disguise the true financial state of VNB from regulators and investors alike. 

 

After a yearlong investigation in which the Finance Ministry and the State Prosecutor gathered thousands of pages of evidence and collected hundreds of statements from involved parties, the Prosecutor has indicated that a sufficient case has been built for prosecution of Mr. Yegorovich, his CFO Lavrentiy Kravchuk and his colleague Ms. V. Makarovna. In the Prosecutor’s initial presentation to the court, he outlined an entrenched system of corruption where Mr. Yegorovich is alleged to have obtained millions of rubles in off-the-book loans from Ms. Makarovna which were used to prop up the failing bank and disguise the nature and extent of the financial losses. It is understood that the funds of depositors and pensioners at VNB were then used to purchase almost NRR$50 million worth of gold bars. The indictment alleges that Mr. Yegorovich proceeded to transfer NRR$10 million of the gold and a sum of NRR$132,000 in cash from the bank into a large storage unit at his home. The remaining gold is alleged to have been divided between Ms. Makarovna and Mr. Kravchuk.

 

When rumors began to circulate about the true financial state of VNB, mere months before it’s eventual collapse, Mr. Yegorovich personally authorized the granting of two unsecured loans to Ms. Makarovna. These loans, which amounted to NRR$97,000 in total, were rushed to conclusion to ensure that the funds would be paid to Ms. Makarovna before the Finance Ministry started it’s investigation into the bank. Less than a month before the collapse of VNB, worried depositors began to withdraw their funds, adding to the financial strain on the organization. While hundreds of depositors managed to retain the entirety of their funds, most were not able to withdraw the funds before the bank ceased permitting withdrawals. At this critical moment, the indictment alleges, Mr. Yegorovich seized a sum of money from the bank vault and booked a flight to an undisclosed African country.

 

According to investigators, Mr. Yegorovich was captured at the Zhukovgrad International Airport attempting to leave the country on a fraudulent passport. Ms. Makarovna was caught when she attempted to leave the Yuktobania Regional Airport on a flight to Vancouver. It is understood that Ms. Makarovna had several gold bars hidden within her undergarments when she was found.

 

After the initial hearing, the Judge accepted the indictment and has denied bail for Mr. Yegorovich. In the case of Mr. Kravchuk, he is expected to plead guilty and has offered to testify against Mr. Yegorovich and Ms. Makarovna in their respective trials. If convicted of the most serious charges, Mr. Yegorovich and Ms. Makarovna may face the death penalty.

 

In other news, Prime Minister Rokossovsky has announced the date of the next Parliamentary elections. At a press conference in Sygh-Varthys, the Prime Minister announced that he sought the dissolution of Parliament and for elections to be held in the next ten days. In his statement, the Prime Minister confirmed that the Office of the Imperator had accepted his request and issued an order dissolving Parliament. Additionally, the Prime Minister confirmed that the Vaule Electoral Council (VEC) will have everything in place for the polls to be held by that date. This means that for the first time ever, Vaulian Parliamentary elections will fall in the same month as the elections to the Federal Duma."[/i]-R. Porter

 

[Imperator Azenquor]

[b][u]VNN News: Election campaign begins, VEC reassures public about electoral safeguards[/b][/u]

 

 

[i]“With only five days left until the Parliamentary elections in the Serene Republic, the campaign is in full swing. Candidates from all major parties have been travelling across the country seeking to shore up support among voters ahead of the polls. Prime Minister Rokossovsky spent the day in the Baikal Autonomous Community (BAC) addressing the local chapter of the United Retirees Association (URA). In his speech, he criticized the opposition Slavic Unity Party’s proposed pension reforms arguing that they would lead to a decrease in the value of the hard-earned pensions of current and future retirees. The Prime Minister pledged to only undertake ‘absolutely necessary’ pension reforms that would only affect future retirees and pledged that he would ‘consult with the URA and other groups’ to involve them in the pension reform process.

 

Slavic Unity Party leader Vladimir Boskovic spent the day addressing a campaign rally in the capital Sygh-Varthys. In an hour long speech, Mr. Boskovic lambasted the government for it’s failure to achieve ‘significant and meaningful economic growth’ and for it’s failure to undertake ‘key reforms to the bloated government bureaucracy’ during it’s term. The Opposition leader urged the voters not to accept the excuse of the war impacting the economy as suggested by the governing VRV party, but to acknowledge that the lack of growth was primarily the fault of the incumbent government. In laying out his vision if he is returned to office, Mr. Boskovic pledged to increase investment in education, infrastructure and healthcare while reforming pensions, the public sector and the state enterprise system. He also pledged to present a budget to Parliament within the first month of his term and would utilize Interim Budget Measures only in cases of ‘genuine national emergency’.

 

In other news, the Vaulian Electoral Council (VEC) has announced that all necessary preparations for the Parliamentary elections have been completed. These preparations include the updating of the national voter’s list to reflect any changes since the last election four years ago. With concerns being raised in the Serene Republic of Vaule about the allegations of fraud in the last federal Duma elections, the VEC issued a statement aimed at reassuring voters. While the VEC refused to comment in specific terms regarding the Duma election, the organization sought to remind voters that it maintains and utilizes an independent voter registry that is not impacted by federal agencies, and that the same safeguards which are usually in place to ensure a free and fair election will continue to remain in place. In it’s statement the VEC called on voters to be ‘extra vigilant’ during the election and to rest assured that all steps that can be taken to secure the vote have been taken.

 

When asked by a member of the press to further comment on the recent Duma elections, the VEC declined to do so saying that doing so would be ‘beyond the scope of the mandate of the VEC’.”[/i]-R. Porter

 

[Imperator Azenquor]

[b][u]VNN News: EIAC power-sharing talks move ahead, elections delayed by VEC[/b][/u] 

 

[i]“The power-sharing talks in the East Ingushetia Autonomous Community between the Ingush Liberal Party (ILP) and the Vaule National Movement (VNM) have expanded in the past few days and have identified a number of additional issues to be ironed out between the two parties. According to sources close to the talks, the discussion has moved from if there should be power sharing in the province to debating an equitable formula for such power sharing to take place.

 

In a surprising development at the talks, both sides have agreed to permit all future elections to use the Electronic Voter Identification System 2.0 (ELVIS2) used in the rest of the Serene Republic and to abolish the use of only paper ballots for local voting in the province. Without citing particular examples, or seeking to place blame for the incidents, both sides have condemned the occurrence of voter irregularities in some parts of East Ingushetia. Both sides are expected to endorse the introduction of electronic voting in the province.

 

Despite the progress made so far, there are still several areas of entrenched disagreement. The Opposition ILP has insisted that the signing of a power-sharing agreement would depend on the resignation of Regional Governor Gen. Artim Bakiyev and a province-wide redistricting of constituency boundaries to fix ‘decades of entrenched gerrymandering’. The VNM has demanded that any agreement should bar any separatist politicians from holding office in the future, and should require that the opposition recognize the incumbent Regional Governor and not seek to change the method of his appointment.

 

While elections to the Regional Parliament of East Ingushetia are constitutionally due to coincide with the ongoing parliamentary elections, the Vaule Electoral Council (VEC) has decided to postpone the elections in order to allow the power-sharing talks to continue in an environment where both parties are not ‘in the midst of an election campaign’. The VEC decision came after lengthy consultations with both sides and with the Office of the Imperator who backed the move.

 

The power-sharing talks have also received the endorsement of the Grand Imam of Esternaya. In a long speech after Friday prayers this week, the Grand Imam urged all sides to embrace dialogue as the means to resolve issues for the betterment of all in the province. He also called on individuals to see their neighbors simply as their brothers, not as being Christian or Muslim, Vaulian or Ingush.”[/i]-R. Porter

 

[Imperator Azenquor]

[b][u]VNN News: United Retirees Association (URA) says hands off our pensions[/b][/u] 

 

[i]“Without waiting for the results of the Parliamentary elections to be known, the United Retirees Association (URA) has sent a stern warning to both political parties who might form the next government in Sygh-Varthys. In an open letter sent to both Prime Minister Rokossovsky and Slavic Unity Party (SUP) leader Vladimir Boskovic, the URA demanded that the government pledge that any pension reforms undertaken during the next four years must not impact those who have already retired. The organization has also threatened to begin sustained protests to remind the next government of it’s obligations to pensioners.

 

At a meeting of the local chapter of the URA in the city of Novosibirsk, the mood among the pensioners is becoming increasingly militant in nature. The gathered URA members burst into raucous cheering as a war veteran spoke about the government’s alleged pension reform plans. Retired General Arkady Denisov charged that the government would touch his pension ‘at their peril’. As the URA regional President attempted to calm the crowd, chants of ‘hands off my pension you bastards’ erupted.

 

Regardless of the next government’s plans to reform the pension system it is becoming increasingly clear that a number of pensioners view the prospect of a Boskovic premiership with increasing dread and concern. The pensioners are said to be also concerned that a deal that would allow Prime Minister Rokossovsky to remain in office at the head of a minority government might require the Prime Minister to allow more wide ranging reforms of the pension and benefits systems.”[/i]-R. Porter

 

[Imperator Azenquor]

[b][u]VNN News: Coalition talks begin, PM mulls minority gov’t[/b][/u]

 

[i]“The voters have spoken, however it will take quite some time to understand exactly what message they sent to the political parties in the new Parliament. It appears that the pre-election predictions of a hung parliament were accurate, however the poll’s prediction of a collapse in support for the Party for Social Justice (PSJ) did not materialize. Now that the last votes have been counted, the messy business of coalition forming begins.

 

As the leader of the largest party in Parliament, incumbent Prime Minister Rokossovsky will make the first attempt to form a government either by a coalition with the Party for Social Justice (PSJ) or the Prime Minister may attempt to govern with a minority government. A minority government, particularly at a time when crucial economic reforms are needed, would inject political instability into the mix at a time when the country can ill afford it. Should Prime Minister Rokossovsky fail to form a government, the task would then fall to Slavic Unity Party leader Vladimir Boskovic.

 

While basking in the surge of voter support behind the SUP, Mr. Boskovic is receiving praise for boosting the party’s fortunes. However, despite the surge in support, several party members are still insisting that Mr. Boskovic’s leadership style and lack of charisma failed to connect with the voters. The party members insist that tens of thousands of voters did not actually vote for the Slavic Unity Party (SUP) out of approval of Mr. Boskovic, but instead the bulk of their non-party vote came from individuals who voted against the Vaule Revolutionary Vanguard (VRV) party. These individuals continue to repeat the mantra that Vladimir Boskovic’s brother Antonin ‘would have got us a majority’.

 

The SUP leader has sought to brush off the criticism and focus on negotiations with the Party for Social Justice (PSJ) which has emerged as the kingmakers in the next parliament. In the next few days the coalition talks will intensify.”[/i]-R. Porter

 

[Imperator Azenquor]

[b][u]VNN News: Controversial former MP Maria Gaznayev considering return to politics[/b][/u]

 

 

[i]“An old face is contemplating a return to politics and a potential challenge to the leader of the Union of Patriotic Right Forces (PRF). Dr. Maria Gaznayev, former conservative politician and political analyst has signaled that she is considering a return to politics in order to ‘help present the conservative narrative in a way which connects with voters’. In a speech given to the annual conference of the Conservative Associations (CAs) Dr. Gaznayev sharply criticized the current leadership of the PRF for failing to ‘carry the conservative torch’ forward and for squandering the gains made by the party and it’s predecessors over the decades. While she didn’t explicitly name PRF leader Rinald Kanic, she suggested that the PRF leadership was doing a ‘phenomenally and spectacularly horrific job’ if they could manage to win no seats in Parliament during an economic recession with double digit unemployment and a government that presented three interim budgetary measures instead of a budget.

 

Dr. Gaznayev said that she hoped that, as it had done in the past, the party would take stock of it’s defeat and take appropriate action against the party leadership. She stated that she was ‘absolutely shocked and mortified’ when the party delegates not only left Mr. Kanic in the top job, but sought to deflect blame from the party over its electoral failures. Citing a party meeting where a glum faced Mr. Kanic was applauded by party members after his concession speech, Dr. Gaznayev expressed her ‘earthshattering outrage’ that not one of the ‘spineless delegates’ had the ‘cajones’ to challenge Mr. Kanic for leadership of the party. ‘If this timid party’, she said, ‘represents the right-wing of tomorrow, then God almighty help us’.

 

After laying out a detailed list of what should be the PRF’s priority policies going forward, Dr. Gaznayev strongly hinted that she was considering returning to politics ‘if only to save the party I love from annihilating itself’. At that point, Dr. Gaznayev received a 10 minute standing ovation from the crowd. After the speech, we attempted to contact PRF leader Rinald Kanic, however he was unavailable to comment.

 

Adding to Mr. Kanic’s woes, a new poll suggests that 68% of PRF supporters would prefer Maria Gaznayev to lead the party going forward while only 12% support Mr. Kanic. So it appears that once again, the ever-controversial Dr. Maria Gaznayev has sent shockwaves through the political establishment by doing no more than hinted at the possibility of a leadership challenge. The question now, is can the PRF survive if Mr. Kanic narrowly sees off the potential challenge by Dr. Gaznayev, or will the party be mired in conflict and disagreements once again.”[/i]- R. Porter

 

[Imperator Azenquor]

[b][u]VNN News: Coalition formed as PM hangs onto top job[/b][/u]

 

[i]“Prime Minister Pavel Rokossovsky will remain in office as the leader of a coalition of the Vaule Revolutionary Vanguard (VRV) party and the Party for Social Justice (PSJ). In a statement released by the Office of the Prime Minister, the government revealed that a coalition agreement has been signed between Prime Minister Rokossovsky and PSJ leader Bryon Svatek to form the next government of the Serene Republic. The statement suggested that a ten point plan had been negotiated between the two parties which will form the backbone of the government’s legislative agenda for the next four years.

 

The proposed coalition would hold 372 of the 651 seats in the eleventh parliament, giving the government a comfortable 57% overall majority in the legislature. The Opposition Slavic Unity Party (SUP) will remain in opposition with the remaining 279 seats. Despite attempts by the SUP to negotiate a coalition deal with the PSJ that would have resulted in a Boskovic led administration, it was reported that there were several disagreements over fiscal policy and short term economic reforms. According to reports, the PSJ agreed to a VRV led coalition that would be mandated to address the SRV’s economic situation and to make fundamental reforms to the economy while protecting the social safety net. This coalition pledge would hinder the original VRV campaign pledge to reform the entirety of the social safety net and the public sector.

 

With the PSJ known for vocally advocating for the protection of benefits and social services, and the VRV known for striving to contain ballooning expenditures, the new coalition government will have an enormous challenge to chart a stable economic course during the term of the next parliament. There are also concerns that the new governing coalition will be unstable and there could be the possibility of a new election within a year or two. There is also concern that the PSJ could use it’s kingmaker role to hold the next government to ransom, threatening to bring down the government and support an SUP administration if it’s demands are not met.

 

The Office of the Prime Minister has confirmed that the coalition deal has been forwarded to the Office of the Imperator and that the proposed cabinet of ministers will be unveiled at the first meeting of the new parliament tomorrow afternoon.”[/i]-R. Porter

 

[Imperator Azenquor]

[b][u]VNN News – Politician pelted with pomegranate[/b][/u]

 

[i]“The embattled leader of the Union of Patriotic Right Forces (PRF) Rinald Kanic is now facing calls to resign from the leadership of the party in light of it’s poor results at the last elections. The calls grew louder after former politician Dr. Maria Gaznayev hinted that she would likely mount a return to politics in order to challenge Mr. Kanic for leadership of the PRF. For his part, Mr. Kanic has mounted a vigorous defense of the party platform and has claimed that the rumored challenge by Dr. Gaznayev is simply a combination of ‘indecisiveness and political opportunism’ on her part. He also accused Dr. Gaznayev of seeking to undermine the PRF as it reflects on it’s election performance and calibrates it’s approach for the next polls.

 

In what Mr. Kanic’s staff denied was an attempt to strengthen his popularity with the party, or to avert a potential leadership challenge, the party leader attended the ‘PRF Party Political’ meeting in Ulan-Ude this afternoon. At the meeting, Mr. Kanic gave a speech highlighting the PRF’s achievements under his tenure and the gains made for the nation when the party was last in government. While he took some blame for the poor electoral showing in the last election, he pledged to move forward and to lead the party to the next election. During his speech, he did not directly criticize Dr. Gaznayev or refer to the potential leadership challenge directly, but he urged the party to approach the future with caution and to avoid ‘wantonly casting aside tested and experienced members’ in favor of those who are ‘relics of a bygone era’.

 

Before Mr. Kanic could continue his speech, a handful of individuals in the audience threw pomegranates at him and jeered loudly. Despite three attempts to calm the crowd so that Mr. Kanic could complete his speech, it became clear to the event organizers that this would not happen. The organizers apologized to Mr. Kanic who rushed from the stage under a sustained pomegranate barrage. In full view of the press, he was quickly bundled into a waiting vehicle which sped away as the crowd cheered.

 

Within minutes of the incident, the news spread across local and regional media as reporters competed for the best headline to sum up the day’s events. The Times of the Serene Republic, opted to lead with the headline: [b]‘PRF Politician pelted with pomegranates at PRF Party political’[/b] while the Baikal Chronicle opted for the headline: [b]’Panicked politician perplexed after pomegranate pelting at party political’[/b]. Despite the headlines, the incident has undoubtedly sparked fears in the Kanic camp, that he no longer has the widespread support of the party. The party leadership is said to have ordered an investigation into the incident amidst rumors that audience members were given free pomegranates at the door to the meeting by a group affiliated to Dr. Gaznayev."[/i]-R. Porter

 

[Imperator Azenquor]

[b][u]VNN News: PRF leadership challenge as Gaznayev enters the fray[/b][/u]

 

 

[i]“The weeks of speculation are now over. At 10:00am this morning Dr. Maria Gaznayev announced her decision to challenge Rinald Kanic for the leadership of the Union of Patriotic Right Forces (PRF). Dr. Gaznayev made the announcement during a PRF party conference in the capital Sygh-Varthys which was led by the PRF’s executive council. Dr. Gaznayev was not originally scheduled to speak at the conference, but she arrived and took to the stage after the keynote speaker had finished his address.

 

In her at times fiery speech, she called on the party to save itself and to choose a new path and a new direction. She explained that she could no longer sit on the sidelines as the political party that she ‘loves more than’ her ‘very own children’ is ‘condemned to the dustbin of history’. She also stated that it was therefore her patriotic duty to fight for the leadership of the party in the hope that she would be able to save the PRF from ‘the abyss’. She appealed to the assembled party members to support her candidacy and to ‘not lose faith’ in the ability of the PRF to rebound from it’s losses. At the end of her speech, the gathered party members gave her a five minute standing ovation.

 

Shortly after the announcement was made and the official candidacy papers filed with the PRF Executive, party leader Rinald Kanic called an emergency meeting of his core advisors to respond to the leadership challenge. While Mr. Kanic did not issue a statement himself, his spokesperson harshly criticized Dr. Gaznayev’s decision and promised a ‘spirited campaign’. He also lamented that the leadership challenge would prove to be a ‘distraction’ for the party as it would have to shift focus from it’s platform to the leadership contest.

 

According to the party charter of the PRF, the leadership challenge will be resolved by special election to be held within 30 days. In order to be elected to lead the PRF, the leadership candidate is required to gain the support of at least 550 of the 1000 party delegates that are eligible to vote. Should no candidate win outright, the party charter requires that additional votes take place every 12 hours until a new party leader is chosen.

 

Less than three hours after Dr. Gaznayev’s announcement, a poll among the 1000 party delegates indicated that Mr. Kanic is likely to retain the leadership of the party with the support of 730 delegates. The pollsters have cautioned however that the results will change as the date of the election approaches.”[/i]-R. Porter

 

[Imperator Azenquor]

[b][u]VNN News: PRF leadership race less than certain as Gaznayev gains ground[/b][/u]

 

[i]“What initially appeared to be an easy victory for Union of Patriotic Right Forces (PRF) leader Rinald Kanic now looks more uncertain than ever before. While the first poll of party delegates indicated that Mr. Kanic would have the support of at least 730 of the 1000 delegates, it appears that he has lost significant ground over the last 4 days. Dr. Maria Gaznayev, who has challenged Mr. Kanic for the leadership of the party, has led a well-coordinated campaign presenting her as the only hope for the PRF to retain political relevance in the Serene Republic.

 

After giving a televised speech under the theme ‘For God and Country!’, Dr. Gaznayev published a fourteen point manifesto outlining the direction that she would take the PRF if she were elected to lead the party. The manifesto predicts that the PRF would see a return to Parliament within four years with Dr. Gaznayev at the helm. The manifesto also outlined a return to the parties ‘economic and social conservative roots’ as being a vital step forward.

 

After party delegates had a chance to read the manifesto and analyze Dr. Gaznayev’s speech, there was a decided shift in support among the party delegates. According to the latest poll, 480 delegates have indicated that they will support Mr. Kanic, 430 delegates have indicated that they will support Dr. Gaznayev and 90 delegates have indicated that they are now undecided. At least 65 of the undecided delegates in the latest poll were supporting Mr. Kanic in the previous poll.

 

Does this shift indicate a potential tidal wave of support to Dr. Gaznayev or will the delegates eventually rally behind Mr. Kanic? If the shift in support indicates a trend will this spell the end of Mr. Kanic’s political career?”[/i]-R. Porter

 

[Imperator Azenquor]

[b][u]VNN News – PRF leadership ballot moves to 2nd round[/b][/u]

 

[i]“After a spirited campaign by the two candidates vying for leadership of the Union of Patriotic Right Forces (PRF) the first vote was held today. The incumbent leader Rinald Kanic is seeking to retain his post as the leader of the PRF against a strong challenge by Dr. Maria Gaznayev who is seeking to unseat him. The 1000 delegates of the PRF who are eligible to elect the party leader gathered in a conference hall in the city of Sygh-Varthys to vote.

 

Once the ballots were cast and counted, the result was less than clear. With the winning candidate required to obtain the support of at least 550 delegates, it appears that neither candidate has managed to win the leadership contest thus far. According to the official results, Mr. Kanic secured the votes of 540 delegates while his challenger Dr. Gaznayev managed to obtain the support of 460 delegates. This inconclusive result means that the party delegates will have to hold another vote within 24 hours in order to select a party leader. Should the second ballot not produce a winner, then votes are required to be held every hour until a victor is determined.

 

While he was clearly surprised at not winning the first round of the leadership contest, Mr. Kanic was upbeat as he sought to reassure delegates that he would be the best leader for the PRF. He also confirmed that the vote indicated that there were ‘issues of concern to some of the delegates’ in the party and that he pledged to address the issues in the interest of maintaining party unity. On the other side, Dr. Gaznayev’s supporters have cheered the initial result and released a statement attacking ‘detractors’ who claimed that Mr. Kanic’s victory was assured and that his leadership of the party was ‘beyond question’.”[/i]

 

[Imperator Azenquor]

[b][u]VNN News: Gaznayev emerges victorious as new PRF leader[/b][/u]

 

 

[i]“After yesterday’s inconclusive election result, the delegates of the Union of Patriotic Right Forces (PRF) today dealt the final blow to the leadership of Mr. Rinald Kanic. Mr Kanic, who has led the PRF for several years, was defeated by Dr. Maria Gaznayev who challenged him for the leadership of the political party.

 

During the first round of the vote yesterday, neither candidate was able to obtain the required support of more than 550 of the 1000 party delegates. The incumbent Mr. Kanic obtained the votes of 540 delegates, while Dr. Gaznayev obtained the votes of the remaining 460 delegates. The second round of the leadership election gave a surprisingly overwhelming majority to Dr. Gaznayev. When the votes were cast in the second round, Mr. Kanic was only able to hold onto the support of 231 party delegates while Dr. Gaznayev obtained the support of 769 delegates.

 

It is unclear what caused this dramatic, overnight reversal that saw Dr. Gaznayev gain the support of an additional 309 delegates at the expense of Mr. Kanic. With the overwhelming support of the PRF behind Dr. Gaznayev it appears that Mr. Kanic, whose position at the helm of the party was long thought to be untouchable, is now out of a job. The former party leader, known for his powerful speeches and biting wit, appeared to be at a loss for words as the results were announced. After several minutes of stunned silence, Mr. Kanic rose to concede to his opponent. 

 

In a speech that was only two sentences long, he thanked his supporters for their faith in him and conceded defeat to Dr. Gaznayev.”[/i]-R. Porter

 

[Imperator Azenquor]

[b][u]VNN News: Imperial Decree delays EIAC elections, Regional Governor reappointed[/b][/u]

 

[i]“In the East Ingushetia Autonomous Community (EIAC) concerns are being raised by the opposition Ingush Liberal Party (ILP) about delays in holding elections for the Regional Parliament in the province. The incumbent Regional Parliament, the ILP stated, is operating on the basis of a mandate that expired more than six months ago. Additionally, the ILP suggested, this situation has resulted in ‘significant additional powers’ being held by Regional Governor General Artim Bakiyev for the period in which the Regional Parliament remains active in a caretaker role. The ILP, and it’s leader Mohammed Abdul Rashid, have called on the Vaulian Prime Minister to dissolve the Regional Parliament and to hold an election.

 

The governing Vaule National Movement-Patriotic Front, which holds a supermajority in the Regional Parliament, rejected the ILP’s concerns and stated that the ILP was simply seeking to derail the power-sharing dialogue underway in the province. Under an initiative of the Crown, representatives of the Christian Vaulians and the Muslim Ingush residents of the province are engaged in a wide ranging dialogue to arrive at a power sharing formula that would diffuse some of the inter-community tension in the province. The talks have been underway for seven months and the Imperial Representative has expressed confidence that a framework agreement would be signed shortly.

 

According to an official statement from the Imperial Representative, who was appointed by HMORH the Imperator, the talks are advancing slowly but significant progress has been made. The statement also suggests that the representative holds the view that holding a legislative election at this time would have a detrimental impact on the power sharing talks. The statement also reveals that the negotiations still have not resolved issues regarding the Regional Governor. The Ingush Liberal Party (ILP) has insisted that the Regional Governor should be directly elected, while the Vaule National Movement-Patriotic Front insists that the current mechanism of Imperial appointment of the Regional Governor must remain in place. In significantly vague terms, the representative has suggested that both sides have agreed to redistricting of the political boundaries in the province and to the introduction of electronic voting and electronic voter identification systems.

 

Within an hour of the Imperial Representative’s statement, an Imperial decree signed by HMORH the Imperator was presented to the Regional Parliament of East Ingushetia. According to the Regional Parliament members, the Imperator has authorized the Regional Parliament to continue to function in a caretaker capacity for at least one year. During this period the Regional Parliament will exercise reduced powers, and the Regional Governor shall remain in place. In an apparent attempt to address concerns about the Regional Governor’s additional powers, the Imperial decree empowers the Imperial Representative to overrule decisions taken by the Regional Governor if those decisions may ‘undermine the national environment, or impact negatively on the power sharing negotiations’.

 

While the Regional Parliament will remain in place for a year, the Regional Governor may remain in place for a significantly longer period. According to the Imperial decree, HMORH the Imperator has reappointed General Artim Bakiyev to the position of Regional Governor for an additional four years.”[/i]-R. Porter

 

[Imperator Azenquor]

VNN News: Framework agreement signed in East Ingushetia

 

“After almost a year of direct negotiations between representatives of the Vaulian majority and the Ingush minority in East Ingushetia, the Imperial Representative today announced the signing of an interim framework agreement for the future of the province. While the agreement does not resolve all of the outstanding issues between the two communities, it mandates significant changes to the day to day governance of the province.

 

According to the Imperial Representative, all factions have signed the interim framework agreement and have agreed to be bound by that agreement until it is replaced by a permanent arrangement. The full text of the agreement will be made public in the next three weeks, however reports have emerged about the exact nature of the document. Under the terms of the interim agreement, a non-partisan five person committee will be created and will be mandated to redraw the constituency boundaries in the East Ingushetia Autonomous Community and to prevent gerrymandering. The committee will be required to complete it’s task within 60 days and to report to the Office of the Imperator.

 

Under the Interim agreement, the East Ingushetia provincial charter will be modified to create the position of Deputy Regional Governor. The Deputy Regional Governor and the Regional Governor must be representatives of different communities, but the agreement does not require that they be from different political parties. The agreement also suggests that appointments to cabinet posts will be required to ‘represent both communities’.

 

The Opposition Ingush Liberal Party (ILP) has accepted an agreement which does not require the direct election of the Regional Governor, requires all Regional Parliament members to swear an oath to the Imperator and to upholding the unity of the province within the Serene Republic and Russia. Despite repeated denials that the ILP has separatist aspirations, it’s members have grated against the idea of being required to swear an oath to the Vaulian monarch. On the other side of the fence, the Vaule National Movement – Patriotic Front (VNM-PF) has accepted an agreement in which the powers of Regional Governor are weakened and in which provincial charter reform becomes an option. It is also understood that the framework agreement requires all future elections in the province to be conducted via electronic voting in place of paper ballots.

 

Hoping to build momentum, reports have emerged suggesting that the next stage of negotiations will involve major reforms to the East Ingushetia division of the Guardians of the Peace of the Serene Republic (G.P.S.R.), the prevention of inter-community incitement, and the creation of a permanent power sharing formula for the province.”-R. Porter

Edited July 23, 2014 by Imperator Azenquor

[Imperator Azenquor]

[b][u]VNN News: Serene Republic resumes administration of former Marscurian Siberia[/b][/u]

 

[i]“The government of the Serene Republic announced today that it has re-established administration of the Kamchatka territory and the former territory of the Marscurian Autonomous Republic (M.A.R.) adjacent to the East Ingushetia Autonomous Community (EIAC). Given the unique situation in the region, the Prime Minister has decided to create an Interim Transitional Authority (ITA) which will be responsible for administering the regions in the short term while their future relationship with the rest of the Greater Russian Empire is determined.

 

The newly-formed Interim Transitional Authority (ITA) consists of five members, two of which are from the region. The chairman of the ITA will be businessman and philanthropist Dr. Maximillian Reaver (O.V., O.D, O.N.A., O.G.A.,K.C.V.R.,M.i.tG).The five member ITA will hold legislative and executive authority in the territory for a period of at least one year. The ITA will ensure that day to day life in the territory is not significantly impacted by the situation while ensuring continued service delivery. To aid in it’s duties, the Vaulian Parliament has allocated NRR$2.6 Billion to fund projects in the territory.

 

In a year, when the mandate of the ITA has ended, residents of the territory will be asked to go to the polls to decide on their future relationship with the state. Voters will likely be asked to choose between establishing the territory as an Autonomous Community within the S.R.V., rejoining the East Ingushetia Autonomous Community (E.I.A.C.), or becoming an Imperial Mandate territory similar in status to Vancouver. After this referendum has occurred, the government intends to dissolve the ITA and replace it with locally elected government officials.

 

To ensure security in the territory during the transitional period, the government has deployed a 5,000 strong contingent of peacekeepers who constitute the M-FOR Peacekeeping unit. This M-FOR deployment is likely to be reinforced by local volunteers from among the local residents of the territory.”[/i]-R. Porter

 

[Imperator Azenquor]

[b][u]VNN News: M-FOR arrives in Marscurian Siberia, Max Reaver declares the area a ‘dump’[/b][/u]

 

[i]“With the Interim Transitional Authority (ITA) for the former Marscurian Autonomous Republic (M.A.R.) now in place, the government of the Serene Republic has announced that locals will go to the polls next month to elect their two representatives to the five member ITA. This announcement comes after suggestions that the government intended to simply appoint two local officials to the ITA. The government has now confirmed that Dr. Maximillian Reaver has accepted the appointment to lead the ITA during the transitional period.

 

Earlier today, Dr. Reaver arrived in the region in order to ‘gain a deeper understanding’ of the situation in the territory. Shortly after his arrival, Dr. Reaver remarked that some of the poverty stricken areas of the territory were ‘an absolute dump and an eyesore’. He pledged to focus on upgrading the living conditions and the infrastructure in these areas as a key pillar of the ITA program. After surveying the situation, Dr. Reaver reported that the government allocated funds of NRR$ 2.6 Billion will not be enough to undertake a massive overhaul of the infrastructure and governmental institutions in the territory. To aid in the process, Dr. Reaver announced that he would be allocating NRR$832 Million over three years to aid development programs in the region. When asked for an estimate of funds needed to upgrade infrastructure and manage administration until the handover to local authorities, Dr. Reaver estimated that the ITA would need at least NRR$3.2 Billion.

 

On the security front, the 5,000 soldier M-FOR peacekeeping force has now been successfully deployed in the mainland territory as well as in the Kamchatka region. This force will be primarily responsible for security over the next year and has been tasked with maintaining order and aiding the functioning of local government institutions. To aid in this process, M-FOR has announced that it will be seeking to retain at least 12,000 Marscurian police officials to assist with day-to-day security. The Guardians of the Peace of the Serene Republic (G.P.S.R.) has send 400 technical advisors and support staff to the region in support of the M-FOR peacekeeping unit.”[/i]-R. Porter

 

[Imperator Azenquor]

[b][u]VNN News: Municipal government elections delayed, Gaznayev begins campaign[/b][/u]

 

[i]“In a short statement today, the government of the Serene Republic announced that the municipal and local government elections which are due to take place next month have been postponed until next year. According to the government, the delay will facilitate the redistricting of several municipal boundaries as well as allowing the government to complete reforms to the election and management of municipal bodies. The government revealed that the municipal redistricting was expected to be completed this month, but that objections were raised by a handful of city councils forcing the government to review the proposals. In the interim, all city council members, Mayors and governors who were elected during the last municipal and local government elections are to remain in office.

 

In the event that a municipal office becomes vacant during the extra-ordinary one year period, the office will be filled by a provisional appointee from the same political bloc as the prior municipal office holder. The Ministry of Local Government and Administration apologizes for any inconvenience that the election delay causes.

 

In other news, Dr. Maria Gaznayev, leader of the Union of Patriotic Right Forces (PRF) has kick-started her political campaign for the next elections with a well-attended rally in Yakutsk. Dr. Gaznayev attacked Prime Minister Pavel Rokossovsky for being ‘out of touch’ with the people of the country and claimed that the government has compromised on what she referred to as ‘firm conservative principles’. In her address, she pledged to restore national pride and strengthen the monarchy as the ‘leading institution of the Serene Republic of Vaule’. She praised His Most Orthodox Royal Highness the Imperator and ridiculed anti-monarchists as ‘traitors, bastards and thieves’.”[/i]-R. Porter

 

[Imperator Azenquor]

[b][u]VNN News: Vancouver Legislative Council approves new voting law, PM sidesteps USSE questions[/b][/u]

 

 

[i]“The Vancouver Legislative Council wrapped up a marathon debate today by voting to approve a new Voter Registration act governing voter eligibility in the Imperial mandate territory. While the previous voter eligibility law allowed all Russian citizens living in the territory to vote provided that they also held right of abode in Vancouver, the law also prevented Vancouverites who were former Imperium military officials from being able to vote. Additionally, the law also prevented non-citizen residents who held right of abode from voting.

 

The new law, approved by 99 of the 100 MLCs, will extend voting rights to non-citizen residents of Vancouver provided that they hold right of abode and are not disqualified by virtue of being former Imperium war criminals. The Legislative Council also decided that certain categories of former Imperium officials may be eligible to appeal their voting ban to the Vancouver Election Council provided that they meet a handful of stringent criteria. According to the law, such an individual would have to prove that they did not hold a post in government under the Northern Imperium’s criminal regime, or did not serve in a command role in the aforementioned regime’s military forces or chemical weapons program. The individual is also required to furnish proof that he/she has not been convicted of any political crime since the date of the commencement of Vaulian sovereignty over Vancouver.

 

Should all of the information be provided, and the independent investigation verify it’s authenticity, the affected individual may be granted the right to appeal his or her voting ban to the Vancouver Supreme Court. The Court may then, on an individual basis, move to uphold or strike down the voting ban on the individual. The new law is seen as a compromise between those who wished to remove the voting ban entirely and those who wished to extend the ban to cover all former Imperium citizens living in Vancouver.

 

Advocates for removing the voting ban have vowed to challenge the Constitutionality of the new law in the courts as soon as it is signed into law by the Governor of Vancouver.

 

In other news, the Serene Republic of Vaule has signaled that Vancouver could move to directly electing the Governor of the territory in the next five years. In a statement from the Interior Ministry, the government revealed that it would not oppose amendments to the Vancouver Charter to bring about a direct election of the Governor provided that those amendments are approved by a direct vote of Vancouver residents and are undertaken with coordination with the Vaulian government. The statement also cautioned that any amendments to the Vancouver Charter must not conflict with the Constitution of the Greater Russian Empire.

 

In other news, Vaulian Prime Minister Pavel Rokossovsky dodged questions about the prospect of a Russian military operation in the USSE. Prime Minister Rokossovsky would only state that the Russian Federal government has the ‘full support of the Serene Republic’ regarding the USSE and that his government is ‘ready and willing to coordinate fully with Russian Federal authorities should the situation require’. The Prime Minister sought to redirect all other questions to the Russian Defense Ministry."[/i]-R. Porter

 

[Imperator Azenquor]

[b][u]VNN News: Agreement reached in East Ingushetia[/b][/u]

 

[i]“After more than a year of quiet and tense negotiations, the Imperial Representative to the East Ingushetia Autonomous Community (EIAC) announced a massive breakthrough this morning. In a short statement, the representative announced that an agreement resolving all outstanding issues between both communities had been agreed to and endorsed by the leaders of both factions. According to the statement, the agreement resolves issues of representation, policing and even the powers granted to the Regional Governor.

 

The agreement, referred to as the [b]Sakha All-Party Agreement[/b] will be reviewed by His Most Orthodox Royal Highness, the Imperator and will be enacted into law once the relevant decree is issued by the Imperator. This process is expected to take no more than five days. The new agreement will replace the previously signed framework agreement, though it contains some of the articles agreed upon in the first framework agreement.

 

Under the Sakha Agreement, all political parties in the East Ingushetia Autonomous Community (EIAC) are required to declare themselves either ‘Ingush Bloc’, ‘Patriotic Bloc’ or ‘Unaligned’. Elections will be held for the East Ingushetia Regional Parliament once all relevant parties have made the necessary declarations. Instead of the simple majority voting which has seen the Regional Parliament dominated by the majority party, the Sakha Agreement will grant the minority party significant blocking powers in the next Regional Parliament. Under the agreement, all laws with the exception of the regional budget, must have the support of the majority of the Regional Parliament and the support of both ‘Ingush Bloc’ and ‘Patriotic Bloc’ members in order to be enacted. The agreement refers to this as 'Governing by Consensus'.

 

Changes to the Regional Charter, would require the approval of a two-thirds majority of the Regional Parliament as well as the majority of both ‘Ingush Bloc’ and ‘Patriotic Bloc’ MRPs. According to the agreement, these changes will seek to give both communities a voice in local decision making and a stake in the political process.

 

The Sakha Agreement, while rejecting the direct election of the Regional Governor as demanded by the Ingush party, creates the position of Deputy Regional Governor and specifies that the Governor and Deputy governor may not be from the same bloc or the same political party. The agreement will also see some of the Regional Governor’s powers transferred to an East Ingushetia Provincial Executive whose members will be appointed by the Regional Parliament.

 

On the contentious issue of policing, the Sakha Agreement will order the dissolution of the East Ingushetia Police Force and will see the deployment of Guardians of the Peace of the Serene Republic (G.P.S.R.) personnel from the Yuktobania and Central Autonomous Communities to East Ingushetia. These personnel will take charge of policing in the province until the creation of a new regional police force that recruits its members from both communities.

 

According to the agreement, the separatists within the Ingush political parties are required to clearly and unambiguously accept that East Ingushetia ‘is, and shall continue to be’ a fundamental part of the Serene Republic of Vaule. The agreement also states clearly, that if any party to the agreement seeks the separation of the East Ingushetia Autonomous Community from the Serene Republic, the entire agreement will be voided. In a concession to the Ingush bloc, the government has agreed that it will not rejoin the former Marscurian territory to East Ingushetia. Some pro-government factions, including the governing Vaule National Movement (VNM) hoped that the former Marscurian territory would be added to East Ingushetia and would help strengthen the nationalist majority in the province.

 

The full text of the Sakha Agreement will be published tomorrow and the document is expected to be debated by the Vaulian Parliament later this week. Despite these achievements, some individuals feel that the agreement will not take steps towards resolving the long-running inter-community tensions in the province, while others feel that a major step forward has been made.”[/i]-R. Porter

 

[Imperator Azenquor]

[b][u]VNN News: Vancouver Residents plan protest to demand election of Governor[/b][/u]

 

[i]“A local citizen’s action group called the ‘Vancouverites for Democracy (VfD)’ has announced the launching of a campaign for the direct election of the Governor of Vancouver. The campaign is aimed at mobilizing grassroots support among Vancouver residents and lobbying the Vaulian monarchy to amend the Vancouver Charter.

 

Under the terms of the Vancouver Charter, the Governor of the territory is appointed by the Crown and approved by a majority of the Vancouver Legislative Council. The Vancouverites for Democracy are calling on the Crown to allow the nomination and election of the Governor without the approval of the Legislative Council. This move, the group argues, will increase accountability in the province and allow a direct mechanism by which the Governor may be appointed and removed. Opponents of the proposed reform argue that the current system already creates a network of checks and balances on the authority of a Governor.

 

To aid in informing the public of their cause, the VfD has announced plans to hold a protest in Vancouver tomorrow afternoon. When contacted for information, the Vancouver government has confirmed that the VfD has received a permit to stage a demonstration for five hours tomorrow afternoon. It is unclear how much support the reforms proposed by the VfD has in the territory.

 

In other news, the Vancouver Legislative Council has dissolved itself in preparation for the next elections in the territory. Residents will be asked to elect fifty of the one hundred member Council to govern the territory for the next five years. The other fifty members of the Legislative Council are appointed by imperial decree of the Vaulian Imperator."[/i]-R. Porter

[Imperator Azenquor]

[b][u]VNN News: VfD protest fizzles as only few citizens attend[/b][/u]

 

“It was planned as a test of support in Vancouver for a directly elected Governor, instead it turned into nothing more than a minor protest. The protest planned by Vancouverites for Democracy (VfD) was held in downtown Vancouver today, but only managed to draw a total of 53 attendees. The group is urging reform of the Vancouver Charter to have the Governor of the Territory directly elected by voters rather than being appointed by the Crown and endorsed by the Vancouver Legislative Council.

 

For several days, the VfD had suggested that it would tap into the anger of ordinary Vancouverites and create a ‘tidal wave’ movement that the government would have to pay attention to. Instead, it appears that most citizens have ignored the call and simply continued their daily lives as normal. While surveys of the popular mood in the Vancouver Territory show that 62% of people want the Governor to be directly elected, only 3% of those surveyed are willing to protest in order to achieve such a reform. 36% of those surveyed indicated that they felt that the current system provided a sufficient democratic mandate to the Governor, while the remaining 2% were undecided.”

[Imperator Azenquor]

[b][u]VNN News: Prime Minister Rokossovsky pledges military support to the Caucasus[/b][/u]

 

[i]“Vaulian Prime Minister Pavel Rokossovsky condemned the killing of 3 Russian military personnel in Rostov as a ‘horrible and terroristic act’ and condemned the perpetrators in no uncertain terms. The Prime Minister contacted Federal Prime Minister Kanic and relayed the Serene Republic’s ‘full and unconditional support of the Russian Federal Government’.

 

Additionally, the Prime Minister is said to have offered to send Vaulian soldiers to fight in the Caucasus pending the approval of the Ministry of Defense. The Prime Minister has not directly confirmed that the offer was made, but when asked said: ‘why wouldn't we offer to send troops? Are we not a part of the Greater Russian Empire?’

 

The Vaulian Parliament paused for a moment of silence at the beginning of today’s session in honor of Russian servicemen who have lost their lives fighting for the Russian Fatherland. In Parliament, Prime Minister Rokossovsky revealed that HMORH the Imperator would address the legislature tomorrow afternoon to discuss matters of national concern and to further demonstrate the commitment of the Serene Republic of Vaule to the unity and indissolubility of the Greater Russian Empire.”[/i]-R. Porter

[Imperator Azenquor]

VCNA News – All-Sakha agreement implementation halted

 

“The proposed implementation of the Sakha All-Party Agreement has been delayed as one side has threatened to abandon the process. According to reports, after intense negotiations regarding reform of the political system in the East Ingushetia Autonomous Community (EIAC), the timeline for implementation of the agreement has been rejected by the Ingush side. After signing the agreement and initially endorsing it, the Ingush Liberal Party (ILP) has changed its position and has suggested that unless its concerns about the implementation timeline are addressed, the party is prepared to walk away from the entire agreement.

 

ILP Leader M.A. Rashid has suggested that the Agreement and all of its articles should be implemented immediately. He has suggested that the ‘administrative delays’ which the government has approved are an attempt to ‘undermine the agreement’ and indefinitely delay implementation. The government has countered this accusation by stating that it would be ‘beyond irresponsibility’ to simply enact a document that requires wide ranging changes to every aspect of governance in the region and not allow for a transitional period. The government also rubbished the ILP’s threat to withdraw its signature from the Sakha Agreement by suggesting that doing so, particularly after the enormous time and resources spent negotiating, would ‘signal an unwillingness on the part of the ILP to negotiate in good faith’.

 

In an unusual move, a representative from the Office of the Imperator (which played a key role in the negotiations) issued a statement regarding the threats by Mr. Rashid. The statement did not directly respond to the threats, but could be seen as signaling that the Palace is losing patience with the process. According to the statement, ‘His Most Orthodox Royal Highness the Imperator has invested significant time and effort in pushing for a negotiated solution to the problems plaguing the East Ingushetia region. It would be deeply unfortunate, and would signal the opening of an unwelcome chapter in the region, should these efforts be dashed simply in the name of political expediency’.

 

In East Ingushetia, the governing Vaule National Movement – Patriotic Front (VNM-PF) has expressed its full support for the Sakha Agreement and the agreed upon timeline for its implementation. The VNM-PF also stated that, should the negotiations fail or be derailed by opposition from the Ingush Liberal Party (ILP) that the VNM-PF has pledged not to hold any further negotiations with the ILP. Adding to the pressure, Regional Governor General Artim Bakiyev pledged to undertake what he described as ‘key security reforms’ that have been delayed by negotiating the Sakha Agreement. The Regional Governor also suggested that the Ingush Liberal Party (ILP) could be branded a ‘terrorist organization’ in the future if it fails to recognize the ‘legitimacy of the Office of Regional Governor’."-R.Porter

Edited November 21, 2014 by Imperator Azenquor

[Imperator Azenquor]

VNN News: Crisis talks underway as ILP seeks negotiated solution

 

After threatening to withdraw from the Sakha Agreement over delays in its implementation, the Ingush Liberal Party (ILP) has asked for a new round of talks to ‘save the agreement from an untimely demise’. According to the party leader M.A. Rashid, the ILP will seek to modify the agreement to guarantee that its implementation will not be delayed for an extended period of time. This modification, the ILP leader claims, will allay concerns that the administrative delays before full implementation of the agreement could be used to avoid implementations of the key reforms in the agreement.

 

In response to Mr. Rashid’s call, the Vaule National Movement-Patriotic Front (VNM-PF) has agreed to hold a dialogue with the ILP but has sought to limit the items under discussion in order to avoid a renegotiation of the entire agreement. In an unusually conciliatory tone, Regional Governor General Artim Bakiyev suggested that the VNM-PF would back the early implementation of certain articles in the Sakha Agreement as proof of the intent of the government to implement the agreement in full.

 

The Office of the Imperator, which is continuing to mediate the negotiation process, has given the VNM-PF and the ILP a 48 hour window to reach a reasonable accommodation on the implementation of the Sakha Agreement. Such an accommodation, the Imperator’s spokesman said, must ‘not deviate from the spirit of, or seek to undermine the landmark agreements reached at the Sakha conference’ and should ‘be reached as a part of a constructive dialogue aimed at bettering the lives of the people of East Ingushetia’.

 

In other news, Vaulian billionaire Dr. Maximillian Reaver has announced that a series of planned investment projects in the East Ingushetia Autonomous Community that were planned to be undertaken by VaulTech Industries would be ‘cancelled the minute either side backs out of the Sakha Agreement’. The proposed investment projects, including significant expenditures on regional infrastructure and job creation initiatives, would result in a cash injection of NRR$381 million for two years. Under the project agreement, the Vaulian government would provide an additional NRR$1.3 billion for three years to support the initiatives.

 

Dr. Reaver also took the opportunity to respond to a series of propaganda leaflets handed out in certain cities in southern East Ingushetia. Dr. Reaver, who is serving as the Acting Head of the Former Marscurian Territory, stated that ‘the claims by some misinformed individuals that the Sakha Agreement will lead to a massive influx of Marscurians from the former Marscurian territory is entirely unfounded. The fantastical claim that the government is planning to incorporate the Marscurian territory into the East Ingushetia Autonomous Community is equally unfounded and entirely ridiculous.’”-R. Porter

Edited November 27, 2014 by Imperator Azenquor

[Imperator Azenquor]

[b][u]VCNA News – Sakha Agreement back on track after last minute breakthrough[/b][/u]

 

[i]“After several tense hours of negotiations which continued through the night, the Office of the Imperator has announced that the ‘deadlock’ in the implementation of the Sakha Agreement in East Ingushetia has been resolved and that implementation of the agreement can now proceed on schedule. The Sakha Agreement, which seeks to resolve the long running inter-community dispute in the East Ingushetia Autonomous Community between the mostly Ingush separatists and the Vaulian nationalists, was said to be in jeopardy earlier this month after the Ingush Liberal Party (ILP) threatened to pull out of the agreement unless certain articles were implemented ahead of schedule.

 

After a tense dialogue in which both the Vaulian government and the East Ingushetia Regional Government made it clear that renegotiation of any articles of the agreement was unacceptable, a solution was arrived at last night. According to the report from the Office of the Imperator, the Ingush Liberal Party (ILP) leader M. A. Rashid agreed to a ‘verbal pledge’ that the agreement implementation would not be unnecessarily delayed as well as signing a written pledge that the ILP would not take any further steps to ‘undermine the agreement or the institutions of regional government in the province’.

 

While Mr. Rashid claimed that the negotiations resulted in ‘a concrete agreement for an expedited timeline for the implementation of the accords’, Regional Governor Artim Bakiyev claimed that no such concrete agreement was signed, but that it was made ‘unquestionably clear to the ILP that they would not be allowed to abandon the peace process in an attempt to exact additional political gain’ and that there would be no further negotiations about the terms of the agreement or the implementation schedule. The Governor did concede however that there was a verbal agreement to implement some aspects of the agreement ‘slightly ahead of schedule’ as the situation permits.

 

With the agreement now back on track, His Most Orthodox Royal Highness the Imperator has issued an order dissolving the East Ingushetia Regional Parliament and removing Regional Governor Artim Bakiyev from his post. The removal of General Bakiyev is said to be aimed at preventing allegations of the use of state resources in the upcoming election campaign. The decree thanked General Bakiyev for his ‘sterling service to the people of Vaule and to the Russian nation’ and praised his efforts at ‘restoring calm in the restive province of East Ingushetia’. General Bakiyev remains the de facto head of the Vaule National Movement-Patriotic Front (VNM-PF) and is expected to lead his party’s campaign in the next regional elections.

 

Until the elections take place, the Office of the Imperator has announced that Dr. Maximillian Reaver will serve as the Acting Governor of East Ingushetia in addition to his role as the Interim Governor of the Former Marscurian Territory. This appointment is planned to last for no more than three months, after which the government is confident that the implementation of the Sakha agreement will have been sufficiently underway so as to allow the elections to take place.”[/i]-R. Porter