BCNA Breaking News: Coup in Buryatia

[Imperator Azenquor]

Breaking News: Coup in Buryatia

(OOC: Continuation of the "The Sleeping Bear stirs")

Every television station in Buryatia suddenly cut to static. Moments later, all of the stations showed a hooded figure seated at a large oak desk. The figure leaned towards the microphone before speaking:

“Ladies and Gentlemen, my fellow Buryatians, lend me your ears for a mere moment.

A few moments ago, while in the process of giving a major policy speech in Revolution Square, Her Royal Highness Queen Yulia was assassinated. This brazen and cowardly act will not go unpunished. We will pursue those responsible to the ends of the earth if necessary. I urge all citizens of Buryatia to remain vigilant and assist the authorities in investigating the assassination of Her Majesty.

Several of you are no doubt wondering who I am. At this point my identity is irrelevant. You only need to know that we are an Organization within the government that has been charged with defending the state at all costs. We will continue to work in the shadows to achieve our objectives. We say to the people of the nation, we stand with you. We say to the assassin and his allies, we will find you. And to President Zhukovsky, we say that we are watching you.

To those who doubt our duty to protect the state and the monarchy, we show you irrefutable proof of where our allegiances lie.”

The figure reached beneath her cloak and pulled out a small silver ring. She placed the ring on the table in front of her and the cameraman zoomed in so that the ring’s design and inscription were clearly visible.

“AZNQ II R”

“This is the ring entrusted to our care by the former Imperator Azenquor I of Vaule. Along with this ring came our mission. We are duty bound to protect the Royal Family of Buryatia from those who wish to harm them, and to protect the nation of Buryatia from those who seek to destroy her. We have operated from behind the shadows, but the tragic events in the square have forced us to step forward as a warning to those among us who seek nothing less than the destruction of the nation.

Citizens of Buryatia, stand firm, for there are troubling times ahead!”

The television stations suddenly return to their regular programming. The nation is stunned as everyone tries to make sense of the events of the last 24 hours.

===Presidential Palace, Yakutsk, Buryatia===

President Zhukovsky was stunned. He couldn’t believe that the Queen had been assassinated, or that the same Organization that he had been investigating, had managed to turn the gaze of suspicion firmly on him. Realizing how serious the threat from the Organization had become, the President felt that he only had one choice left.

He picked up the phone in his office and called the Army’s Chief of Staff. The phone rang unanswered. The President picked up the receiver again, and was shocked to discover that the phone line had gone dead.

Without warning, the lights inside the Presidential palace went off and there was gunfire in the distance. As the President rushed to the door of his office, it swung open and five armed soldiers entered the room with their rifles trained on the President.

“What is the meaning of this!”-President Zhukovsky

“Mr. Zhukovsky, former President of the United Kingdom of Buryatia, you are hereby placed under military arrest under the orders of the Army Chief of Staff. You are charged with treason, violating the constitution, violating the human rights of several citizens of Buryatia, authorizing state forces to employ illegal actions including warrantless arrest and detention, and ordering, paying for and attempting to reap the benefits from the assassination of Her Royal Highness Queen Yulia.

Should you attempt to resist arrest, we have been authorized to use lethal methods to prevent your escape.”-Soldier #1

The President stood dumbfounded as he was handcuffed, thrown into a van and driven away off into the night.

===2 hours later, on Buryatian Central News Agency TV===

The National Anthem of Buryatia played as a montage of pictures and the national flag were shown. Once the anthem ended, General Zelin was shown in full military uniform seated at his desk.

“My fellow citizens, we have found and arrested the person who was responsible for the assassination of the Queen. The military has unquestionable evidence from several sources which shows that the assassination was ordered by the President of Buryatia himself. Our questioning of the Vice President and the Presidential staff, along with the assassin has yielded remarkable information which led us to make a major breakthrough in the case.

We were preparing to present our case to the Supreme Court, when we received additional intelligence about the involvement of several other members of the Zhukovsky Administration in the plot. We also have concrete evidence showing that members of the Administration had used illegal means to arrest several members of various government bodies who were investigating them. The final break in the case came hours ago when we confirmed that President Zhukovsky had chartered a private jet, under an alias, to flee the country.

Faced with the possibility of having the main suspect escape, we had no choice but to act and to detain President Zhukovsky. The Former President is being held under military guard at an undisclosed location. He will face a full trial to answer for his crimes, however until that point the nation must remain stable and additional measures must be put in place to ensure our national security.

With no alternative, and after serious and prolonged debate, the military High Command has reached a decision regarding the best way to resolve the situation. Effective immediately, all branches of the government of Buryatia, and all government officials with the exception of the Foreign Minister, are relieved of their positions and are confined to their homes until they can be cleared as not being security risks.

The Constitution that has given shelter to cowards and traitors is suspended in its entirety and all of Buryatia shall remain under a state of Martial Law for the next 72 hours. We admit that these measures might seem severe, however we face a monumental threat to our security, and the military is committed to the restoration of both the Constitution and the Government as soon as this threat has passed.

All of the powers that were previously vested in the branches of Government under the suspended constitution shall reside with the Interim Administration. All of the powers that resided with the Monarchy shall remain vested in the Monarchy and shall be exercised by the Queen’s successor as determined by law.

The Military hereby establishes the “Special Military Committee for the Restoration of Order and Constitutional Normalcy in the United Kingdom of Buryatia and Her Dependencies and Protectorates (S.M.C.R.O.C.N.U.K.B.H.D.P.)" to manage the day to day affairs of the nation until it is possible to begin the transition to a new Constitution and to hold elections for a new government.

Once Martial Law is lifted, ordinary citizens of the nation will be able to go about their daily lives unhindered as we will begin laying the groundwork for a new government. We hold the security of the people of Buryatia as our primary objective, and we will work with the people as we proceed through stormy seas.

The Committee will honor all agreements signed by the previous government, and will not be changing Embassy staff. We understand that the International Community may be concerned by the developments inside Buryatia, but we reassure them that the situation in the country is stable and the military is in full control. We ask for the support of the International Community at this time as we begin our monumental task.

I thank you for your time.”-General Zelin

***Back to News Studio***

“After the announcement, citizens in several provinces have reported the deployment of soldiers to the streets to enforce martial law. A citizen living in Normoon province in the north has sent us these pictures of a column of tanks leaving a military base and heading towards the capital.”-Reporter

“Several citizens in the capital territory, and in the neighboring provinces of Sakha, Carmagh and New Faron, have hoisted military flags from their residences in a show of support for the military. Some citizens in East Caledonia province hoisted flags of the Pan Asia Party in opposition to the military coup.

So far the coup has occurred peacefully and there have been no reports of violence or deaths. We will continue to monitor the situation and will be issuing reports daily. Until tomorrow night, we at BCNA wish you a good night.”-Reporter

Edited July 27, 2009 by Imperator Azenquor