The Moscow Times

[JEDCJT]

Muscovy-Zapadnaya treaty ratified

 

MOSCOW - The State Duma overwhelmingly voted to ratify the Muscovy-Zapadnaya Treaty. The results went as follows:
 

Muscovy-Zapadnaya NAP+INT Treaty

 
Support/Oppose/Abstain:
United Muscovy (UNM): 238/3/4
Liberal-Democratic Party (LDP): 90/0/2
Social Democratic Party (SDP): 58/3/4
Russian Unity Party (RUP): 40/2/5
 
Total: 426/8/15

Edited August 20, 2014 by JEDCJT

[JEDCJT]

Arkhangelsk Economic Recovery Act passed

 

MOSCOW - The two chambers of Parliament voted to pass the Arkhangelsk Economic Recovery Act, which allocates up to $500 million in "recovery funds" to the region of Arkhangelsk over a three-year period.
 
The Act, which was announced by Prime Minister Vladimir Putin in a press statement in Moscow, "will help stimulate economic growth in Arkhangelsk and place the region on the road to economic recovery and eventual prosperity."
 
(OOC: 2/7 posts for Arkhangelsk)

Edited August 20, 2014 by JEDCJT

[JEDCJT]

Vologda well on the way to reunification

 

VOLOGDA - Vologda's local Duma voted to pass legislation outlining the frameworks for the "reunification" of the eastern half of Vologda into the province.
 
For a start, border checkpoints and crossings between the two regions will be relocated to the new eastern border, and visa requirements for inhabitants on both sides of the now-former border will be phased out, meaning Vologda citizens will now be able to traverse the old borders freely.
 
Moreover, legislation similar to the Arkhangelsk Economic Recovery Act is currently going through the Parliament, where it is being in a second reading in the State Duma. If approved, the bill will be passed on to the State Council, and if approved once again, will go to the Tsar for final signature.
 
(OOC: 2/7 posts for eastern Vologda)

Edited August 20, 2014 by JEDCJT

[JEDCJT]

Accession talks planned

 

ARKHANGELSK - Accession talks between the Muscovite government and Arkhangelsk's local government were planned to be held in several week's time, the Moscow Times reported today.
 
This announcement were broadcast all over the Tsardom following the passage of the Arkhangelsk Accession Dialogue Act by Parliament, which authorizes the Muscovite government to send over a special commission to Arkhangelsk for such talks. The projected topics for discussion are taxation, political representation, and economic policy, among others.
 
"This is a historic opportunity for the peoples of Arkhangelsk to join our Muscovite brothers and sisters in a stable, prosperous community," Arkhangelsk leader Viktor Pavlenko said in a speech in Arkhangelsk's central square. 
 
(OOC: 3/7 posts for Arkhangelsk)

Edited August 20, 2014 by JEDCJT

[JEDCJT]

Eastern Vologda economic recovery legislation signed into law

 

MOSCOW - The State Council overwhelmingly voted to approve the East Vologda Economic Recovery Act, and the bill went on to the Tsar's desk, where he promptly signed it into law.
 
"No more will the peoples in eastern Vologda live in abject poverty and suffering," he was reported saying as he scribbled his signature. "Now they will enjoy prosperity and happiness along with the rest of the Muscovite community."
 
The Act authorizes up to $300 million in funds and other assets to help integrate the eastern Vologda economy into that of the Vologda Governorate, and the rest of the Tsardom.
 
(OOC: 3/7 posts for eastern Vologda)

Edited August 20, 2014 by JEDCJT

[JEDCJT]

Neighborhood Watch established in Central Oversector

 

MOSCOW - High Governor Wilhuff Tarkin proposed to Tsar Mikhail a plan that would "enhance public security in Moscow and its surrounding regions, empower the State to enforce it, and serve as a model for other leaders to emulate in the near-future."

In a communique presented to the Tsar, Tarkin proposed the formation of what he termed a "crime watch system", in which citizens could be "mobilized in a way as to ensure public safety, combat crime, and contribute to the positive development of their neighborhood areas."

What he meant was a neighborhood watch (known as the Volunteer Militia, or Druzhina) would be established, to consist between three and fifteen legal citizens at one time. They will assist regular police in their duties, and would have the powers to conduct citizen's arrest. A single Druzhina will be responsible for five to seven neighborhoods (which will consist twenty blocks led by Block Leaders). Fifteen Druzhinas will form a Druzhina Committee headed by a Commissioner, who in turn will report to the local Druzhina Bureau.

Although it would be voluntary, citizens would be heavily encouraged to participate in the "patriotic effort to maintain the high standards of peace, prosperity, safety, and happiness in the Tsardom," with incentives offered, such as reduction of taxes, forgiveness of debt, exemption from military service, higher social prestige, and so on.

This system would be established in Central Oversector on a trial basis, beginning with Moscow before expanding outwards, and the heads of the Druzhina Bureau will be responsible to the High Governor, and by extension the Tsar. Tarkin hoped that the Druzhina would "provide a swift, systematic response to crime and disorder as they appears and before they have time to entrench" and enable government forces to "respond to threats quickly while they are still small and manageable." The visible presence of armed Druzhina civilian patrols on the streets should hopefully "inspire fear in would-be criminals and deter them from commiting crime." In a gist, it would be combating crime "though the fear of force rather than through force itself."

If the program is judged to be a success, it may be expanded to the rest of the Tsardom.

Edited August 8, 2014 by JEDCJT

[JEDCJT]

Ultranationalists open party branch office in Arkhangelsk

 

ARKHANGELSK - It seems the Ultranationalists are slowly but steadily expanding its networks: they opened a party branch office in the city of Arkhangelsk.

"We know no bounds, we will strive to disseminate our party ideals everywhere," Party leader Imran Markov stated in a speech during a speaking trip in St. Petersburg. "To all corners of this empire, the banner of the Ultranationalist Party will fly, and Arkhangelsk is but a step forward."

The Ultranationalists aren't the only ones to open a branch in Arkhangelsk; the official parties such as United Muscovy (UNM), Liberal Democrats (LDP), Social Democrats (SDP), and Russian Unity (RUP) are in the process of establishing offices of their own in the city, and are poised to challenge the Ultranationalists in a battle for hearts and minds.

(OOC: 4/7 posts for Arkhangelsk)

Edited August 8, 2014 by JEDCJT

[JEDCJT]

Vologda reunification

 

VOLOGDA - Vologda's provincial Duma voted to pass legislation officially incorporating eastern Vologda into the namesake province.
 
"The peoples of Vologda are once and indivisible once again," Vologda governor Oleg Kuvshinnikov said as he signed the relevant legislation. Celebrations were held in the cities of Vologda, Cherepovets, and Totma.
 
Eastern Vologda's accession into its western half also places it under the jurisdiction of the Neva Oversector.
 
(OOC: 4/7 posts for Vologda)

Edited August 8, 2014 by JEDCJT

[JEDCJT]

 Arkhangelsk becomes a Governorate

 

ARKHANGELSK - By an ukase issued by Tsar Mikhail, the Arkhangelsk Governorate was formally established and Viktor Pavlenko appointed as its Governor-General. It will be required to draw up its own Charter in compliance with the Fundamental Laws, and conduct a comprehensive review of its legislation to ensure compliance with the Laws.
 
Furthermore, the new Governorate will form part of the Neva Oversector.
 
(OOC: 5/7 posts for Arkhangelsk)

Edited August 8, 2014 by JEDCJT

[JEDCJT]

Election for Vologda Duma to be held

 

VOLOGDA - Governor Oleg Kuvshinnikov announced that new elections for the Vologda Duma will be held in three month's time to reflect the recent incorporation of eastern Vologda into the province.
 
It is anticipated that the four major political parties (United Muscovy, Liberal-Democrats, Social Democrats, and Russian Unity), along with the budding Ultranationalist Party, will begin campaigning in the province.
 
(OOC: 5/7 posts for eastern Vologda)

Edited August 8, 2014 by JEDCJT

[JEDCJT]

New highways to be built

 

STAVROPOL - The National Highway Commission approved a plan to construct a new 7-lane superhighway in the southern Volga region.

 

The proposed superhighway, which will be given the "M" prefix in the route identification system, will connect the city of Romanovgrad to Krasnodar and the cities in-between (Elista and Stavropol). A number of "E" and "AH" prefix highways will also be built along the new route.

 

Also approved was a 5-lane highway connecting the city of Perm to Vyatka (formerly Kirov), and a 5-lane highway connecting Vyakta to Kazan. The two highways will be given the "M" prefix to identify them as a federal highway. Discussions are currently being held among NHC, oversector, provincial, and local officials regarding the construction of a highway connecting Vyatka to Vologda.

 

The above highways will be built in a way that would minimize the impact of construction activities on existing highways and roads, optimize infrastructure cost/benefit, reduce maintenance costs, improve service safety, and to effectively address challenges posed by disasters such as earthquakes, floods, terrorist attacks, and so on.

[JEDCJT]

Ultranationalist member Sergey Arenot wins mayoral election in St. Petersburg

 

ST. PETERSBURG - In one of the most surprising elections in recent history, Ultranationalist candidate Sergey Arenot won the St. Petersburg mayoral election, becoming the sixth member from the Ultranationalist Party to win an election.

 

Beating out other 40 candidates in the "municipal filter", Arenot received over 42 percent in the first round, in which he faced off against United Muscovy candidate Markus Soronov in the second round. After votes were tallied, Arenot received over 51 percent of the vote, narrowly winning the election.

 

Ultranationalist leader Imran Markov congratulated Arenot on his electoral victory, stating that it was "the most crowning day in our party's short history." He wished Arenot well on his endeavors, and beseeched him to "represent the People and implement programs beneficial to the People, especially sailors and workers."

 

Other Ultranationalist members who achieved political office are Mayor Natalya Sernov of Tver, Governor Roman Arkady of Voronezh, Mayor Sergei Lamarov of Belgorod, Mayor Edvard Limonov of Rastyansk (formerly Dzerzhinsk), Mayor Ivana Antonov of Perm, and Mayor Alexei Solyov of Izhevsk.

[JEDCJT]

Moscow Metro to undergo expansion

 

 

MOSCOW - Dmitry Pegov, chairman of the Moscow Metro Commission, announced in a press statement that four new lines would be added to Moscow's sprawling namesake Metro (Moskovsky metropoliten), to begin construction in 20XX. 

 

Construction of the Soko'Inicheskaya and Tagansko-Krasnopresnenskaya lines would commerce shortly, to be followed by the Kozhukhovskaya and Kalininsko-Solntsevskaya lines. Moreover, a new circle line would be built, to connect the Khoroshevskaya station to the Delovoy Tsentir station. Altogether, fifteen new stations would be constructed along the four proposed lines. 

 

Furthermore, existing Metro lines, rail cars, and stations would receive modifications and upgrades to improve their efficency and enhance their security features with the goals of reducing incidences such as accidents, terrorist bombings, or blackouts.

 

The reason behind this expansion project is to accommodate Moscow's vast population and its burgeoning population growth, which places extraordinary strain upon the capital's road and railway infrastructure, as indicated by the increasing incidence of traffic jams and overcrowding in metro stations.

 

---

 

White Sea-Baltic Canal to be expanded

 

 

ST. PETERSBURG - The Moscow Metro isn't the only one to undergo expansion. The Maritime Transport Agency of the Ministry of Transportation authorized the allocation of $5 billion rubles to modernize and expand the White Sea-Baltic Canal.

 

This includes, but is not limited to the widening of the Canal to allow transportation of naval ships and other wider commerical ships such as cargo ships. The decision by Transportation Minister Ivan Kudrin was issued after an evaluation commission issued a detailed report indicating the feasibility of the Canal's expansion. 

 

Concerns such as the possible demolition of private houses and other property along the Canal's route, which runs from St. Petersburg to the White Sea port of Belomorsk, through several lakes such as Ladoga, Onega, and Vygozero, were addressed by the invocation of eminent domain laws and the allocation of funds for such purpose.

 

The Canal was built in the Soviet Union in the early 1930s using forced slave labor, in which tens of thousands died due to terrible labor conditions.

Edited August 16, 2014 by JEDCJT

[JEDCJT]

New province created

 

NARYAN-MAR - After strategic review, the Parliament passed the Autonomous Governance Act establishing a new province, the Nenets Automonous Okrug (NAO). 

 

This shifted administrative control from the Komi Duchy, which had been administering the regions since the takeover of Muscovy's eastern regions, to the NAO. The new province will be administered from the town of Naryan-Mar, and will consist of Nenets, Novaya Zemlya, Vaygach, and Kolguyev, with the exception of Franz Josef Island, which will remain under the jurisdiction of the Murmansk Governorate.

 

As per the Charter, the NAO will be allowed to establish its own charter and legislature, and will be equal to the other provinces in status. Igor Koshin was appointed the provisional head of the government pending legislative elections, which will be held in six months. Moreover, it will be placed under the jurisdiction of the Eastern Oversector as well.

Edited August 17, 2014 by JEDCJT

[JEDCJT]

Muscovy's official name changed

 

MOSCOW - Tsar Mikhail issued a special ukase officially changing the nation's official name to the 'Tsardom of Russia'. From now on, the country is to be referred to as 'Russia' in official government communications and documents, although the term 'Muscovy' may still be used unofficially.

 

"The name 'Muscovy' was used to denote its origins in the postapocalyptic world, that is, it was formed in the city of Moscow and the name reflected that," Tsar Mikhail stated in a speech to an assembled crowd of one million in Red Square. "Over time, we as a nation and as a community have steadily expanded beyond the borders of Moscow to encompass most of the lands that were historically referred to as the lands of the Rus. The time have now come to reclaim the name 'Russia' for our country and people, and so it shall be!"

 

Nearly all members in both houses of Parliament were unanimous in passing the Official Nation Name Reclamation Act, which confirmed the Tsar's decree and mandated that the terms 'Russia' and 'Russian' replace 'Muscovy' and 'Muscovite' in all public institutions. Likewise, the Charter will be modified to include the new name. Foreign nations would be notified of the name change.

 

Lastly, the Tsar will assume the title of "Tsar and Autocrat of all the Russias."

[Evangeline Anovilis]

"Romania hereby protests the Tsar's styling of himself as the 'Tsar and Autocrat of all the Russias', as we view this as an insult and claim to our two allies in Ukraine and Byelorussia. Until this has been rectified, we shall refer to your nation as Muscovy and to its monarch as Grand Prince thereof."
-Maria I de România

[Mr Director]

"Belarus echoes the statement of our Romanian allies, and finds this move by Muscovy to be most worrying."

[JEDCJT]

"We note the diplomatic protest filed by Romania. The title has been historically used by the Russian Tsar, and we would like to clarify that it is in no way meant to assert any claim to the Ukraine and Belarus, and should not be construed as such."

[Evangeline Anovilis]

"The title has been used by the historic Tsar of Russia exactly to underscore his rule over not only Russia, but also Belarus and Ukraine. There is no way to construe this title as anything but an affront to the sovereignity of our allies in the Eastern Bloc."

-Maria I de România

[Mr Director]

"Belarus notes that the Tsar is referring to himself as the "Tsar and autocrat of all the Russias(note the plural)," which implies an attempt to infringe on the sovereignty of Belarus(White Russia).

Edited August 19, 2014 by Mr Director

[JEDCJT]

"If it worries you that much, we will modify it to 'Tsar and Autocrat of Russia'."

[Euphaia]

Hungary-Slovakia stands united with its Eastern Bloc allies, and will stand with Our allies against any and all threats towards their sovereignty.

[Californian]

The Northlands recognizes our ally's name change and send our well wishes to Tsar Mikhail. 

[Evangeline Anovilis]

"We very much thank the Tsar and Autocrat of Russia the Great, and we hope it will a good steward of the Russian nation, an upright defender of the Orthodox faith and traditions and a wise ruler to all his subjects."
-Maria I de România

 

Sent with the note would be a highly decorated medieval bible from Byzantium, as well as an asortment of Romanian wines.

[Knights111]

"Although we do not always support Muscovy/Russia's actions, we have no issue with the title. Nations taking offense by it have no reason to as it is a title, and does not nessesarily mean it is true for all Russians. They did not say they had plans on taking over Ukraine, etc. so there is no reason to assume. You all should simply grow up and get over it until you find evidence of them plotting to take over those nations. To add on to that, the title says Tsar of all Russian people, hovever it may be safe to say that they refer to "Russian people", they most likely mean people in the nation now known as Russia, not everyone who is Russian. But then again, we do not like to assume."

-Lindsey Mitchell of Baffin Island