Serbovia
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| Flag of Serbovia | |
| Motto: Vis Unita Fortior | |
| No Map Available Yet | |
| Region | Europe |
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| Capital | Petrograd |
| Official Language(s) | Serbovian Slavic, Bosnian, Arabic |
| Leader | King Vyacheslav III |
| Population | 16 million |
| Currency | Ruble |
| NS Sunset XML | |
Contents
General Information
Serbovia is a relatively small nation located somewhere in the northern half of Europe. It is an ethnically and culturally diverse constitutional monarchy, which has also seen several internal and external conflicts over the years.
Currently Serbovia is ruled by King Vyacheslav III Romanov, who is part of the Romanov dynasty which has ruled the country ever since 1600's.
The Kingdom of Serbovia was first formed in the year 1355, when Peter Ivanovich, Grand Duke of Petrograd (he named the city after himself) united the country after years of warfare between competing noblemen.
Geography
Provinces of Serbovia
Landmarks of Serbovia
Royal Palace of Petrograd
The Royal Palace of Petrograd, built between 1744 and 1749, acts as the official residence of the Royal Family. It has been designed by best Serbovian architects and decorators at the time, and has many luxorious bed rooms, apartments and halls. The palace is located on the Starayy Ostrov (Old Island) District, which houses many grand palaces and other historical buildings. Over the years the palace has been repaired several times, and it was expanded considerably between 1844 and 1846 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the completion of the palace. A small part of the palace was destroyed in 1992 because of a bomb attack by the terrorist group Krasnayy Revolyutsionnayy Armiya, and was rebuilt in 1993. The palace has also been updated to meet the requirements terrorism and espionage place on security, and today the palace includes features such as armored glass windows, a nuclear-hardened bomb shelter underneath the palace, anti-eavesdropping system, blocks and fences preventing unauthorized access to the palace grounds and modern security systems. Security of the palace is the responsibility of the Chevalier Guard Regiment.
Suvorov Palace
The Suvorov Palace, like the Royal Palace located in the Starayy Ostrov District, acts as the National Congress building. It was built in 1854, when King Alexei II Romanov decide to make the National Congress a bicameral legistlative branch, and the House of Representatives was created in addition to then-Council of the Nobles. The first speaker of the House of Representatives was Dimitri Sergejevich Suvorov, a rich merchant from Yakovlev, and the palace was named "Suvorov Palace" after him in 1866. From 1854 to 1924 the palace housed the House of Representatives, but when in 1924 King Vyacheslav I Romanov decided to disband Council of the Nobles after a failed coup attempt against him, the palace was expanded to house the new National Council as well.
There are many facilities in the Palace, ranging from meeting rooms of both Houses and various committees to Congressmen's offices to gymnasiums and restaurants. Like the Royal Palace, the Suvorov Palace has been upgraded with various security systems. Protection of the Palace is the joint responsibility of the SBS and KSSM.
White Palace
The White Palace or Belayy Dvorets, located in the upper class Arbatov District of Petrograd, is the official residence of the prime minister of Serbovia and his family. It was built in 1790 by count Ivan Voronin as his home, and remained in hands of the Voronin family until year 1924, when count Alexei Voronin, the owner of the White Palace, was sentenced to death for high treason due to participation in an anti-Romanov conspiracy. The palace was seized by the state, and transferred to the use of the Prime Minister of Serbovia. Underneath the palace is a highly secret railroad going to the Royal Palace, Suvorov Palace and Romanov Air Base outside Petrograd. The Palace has several modern communications and protection systems, and the street the Palace is on has KBK and SBS checkpoints on both ends.
Government
As said before, Serbovia is a constitutional monarchy, with a bicameral parliament, the National Congress, which is elected every four years. Every adult (over 18 years) Serbovian citizen is allowed to vote. The upper house of the parliament is called the National Council, and it has 50 members, two from each Serbovian administrative region. The lower house, House of Representatives has 500 members, with the number of representatives from each administrative region varying according to the region's population.
After election, the National Congress elects one of it's members as the Prime Minister, who is responsible for forming the government of Serbovia. Formally the King appoints the Prime Minister after National Congress' recommendation, but usually the King has chosen the candidate recommended by the National Congress, ie. the winner of the vote. After appointment, the Prime Minister leads the negotiations for establishing the government, which can last up to several weeks. After the government has been assembled, the National Congress votes for the approval of the government, and after that the King formally appoints the government. Current Prime Minister is Aleksandr Volkov of the National Coalition, a moderate nationalistic conservative party. The government is composed of the National Coalition and Serbovian Centrist Alliance. There are several major and minor opposition parties such as Social Democratic Workers' Party (moderate leftist party), Serbovian Federalist Party (right-wing federalist anti-monarchy party), Freedom Party (right-wing liberal party) and Slavic League (an extreme right-wing party). Communist parties have been outlawed since the assasination of King Vyacheslav II by communist terrorists in 1988. The King has limited executive power.
King Vyacheslav III Romanov
Prime Minister Aleksandr Volkov:
Chancellor of the Royal Court of Serbovia Vladimir Malinovsk
Society, People and Culture
Ethnicities and Culture
As said, Serbovia is an ethnically diverse country, with various ethnic groups inhabiting the country. The majority of the Serbovian population, 57%, are so-called "North Serbovian Slavs", and according to their name most of the North Serbovian Slavic population is concentrated on the Northern part of the country. Also, in some areas, there is a mixed population of Northern and Southern Serbovian Slavs. The differences between these two groups are mostly rather minor, the most visible one being the little darker skin and facial hair of the Southern Serbovian Slavs. Southern Serbovian Slavs compose 27% of the population.
The area composed of the southernmost provinces of Serbovia, officially called the Marovia Region, is the most ethnically diverse area in Serbovia. Many more or less numerous ethnic groups inhabit this region and particularly the mountainous province of Gorania-Hertzetia. The largest original ethnic group in this area are the ozgurs, coming from the word "Ozgur", meaning "free" in their language. Some Serbovians still call the ozgurs with their old Slavic name Goraniy, coming from the expression "Gora Narod", mountain people, but this expression is considered by most Ozgurs and a significant percentage of other Serbovians to be derogatory and almost racistic. Scientists consider the Ozgurs related to the Kurds and Arabs in other European* countries. Their skin and facial hair are darker than the ones with the Slavic population of Serbovia, but still not dark enough for them to be considered black. Almost all Ozgurs are sunni moslems and they comprise 7% of the Serbovian population.
The Ozgurs are organized into 17 clans called Byuk Klan - Great Clan - which in turn are organized into several hundred smaller clans. Before the Serbovians conquered Gorania-Hertzetia, a council of Great Clans ruled the Ozgur people, but nowadays the Clan Council mainly acts as advisors and liaisons between the Serbovian government and the Ozgurs. Traditionally the Ozgurs have been somewhat unfriendly, sometimes even openly hostile, towards foreigners. Age and experience of life is greatly respected by the Ozgurs, and the elderly are looked after by their children. Members of the Ozgur communities are usually very close to each other, and other members of the community such as friends and neighbors are helped and are looked after often.
The Ozgurs have traditionally made a living from farming and hunting, but over the second half of the 20th century, many Ozgurs living in the lowlands areas of Gorania-Hertzetia have moved on to other professions, and today a considerable part of the Ozgur population gain their money from working in factories and tourism. Also, there has been considerable emigration by the Ozgurs to the northern parts of Serbovia in search of employment in the latter half of the 20th century, where they have formed their own communities in the Serbovian cities. Some Ozgurs living with the mainstream population have found it difficult to adapt to the Serbovian way of life, and because of this crime, drugs and alcohol are common problems in some Ozgur areas in Serbovian cities. This has caused some friction between the mainstream Serbovian population and the Ozgurs, creating support for racist groups such as the Slavic League.
Another significant ethnic group inhabiting the southern region of Marovia are the Hertzets, an Italic-influenced people who speak their own language and have a culture largely different from the cultures of Slavs and Ozgurs. About 67% of the Hertzets are Twentish Catholics, while the rest of them are orthodoxs. The exact origins of the Hertzet populations are unknown, but some scientists theorize that they arrived from the areas currently belonging to Nosterra before the birth of Christ. Before the Serbovians conquered Gorania-Hertzetia, Hertzets were considered second-class citizens and their position under Ozgur rule was almost equivalent to slavery. This, and further clashes between the groups about matters such as farming land have created a lasting distrust between the Ozgurs and Hertzets. Even today arguments and fights between groups of Hertzets and Ozgurs are not uncommon in areas inhabited by the both groups, and government has been working hard to reduce the racism in Serbovia. Hertzets comprise 5% of Serbovian population.
Other ethnic groups, both indigenous and foreign, comprise about 4% of the Serbovian population.
Religion
Media
The Serbovian Ministry of Information controls several TV and radio channels, grouped under the Obshtij Radioperedacha Korporatsiya or General Broadcasting Corporation. ORK's nationwide TV channels are ORK 1, ORK 2, ORK 3 and ORK Izvestija. ORK 1 and 2 are general TV channels, while ORK 3 focuses on entertainment programs and movies and ORK Izvestija is a digital channel for news and current events programs. All ORK channels are also available through digital television, and as of July 2005 42% of Serbovian population had a digital television. The ORK also operates local TV and radio stations. In addition, the Ministry of Information publishes several newspapers such as Serbovyjskoje Izvestija, commonly referred to as "Izvestija". There are several independent commercial TV and radio channels and newspapers.
Economy
Serbovian economy follows a capitalist, free-market model with government involvement traditionally consisting of mainly regulating monopolies, ensuring workers' rights and watching the products' health and safety standards are met. Government also provides subsidies for private entrepreneurs. Serbovian social security system provides extensive support for the elderly and disabled, while the unemployment subsidies system is mainly focused on getting the unemployed to work as soon as possible. Participation in government's employment programmes is a requirement for gaining unemployment subsidies. There is an extensive government-run education system, with knowledge and intelligence traditionally being held to high value in Serbovia.
Most of Serbovian economy is based on heavy industry, but the country also has considerable mineral deposits. Recently, international travel agencies have also begun organizing travels to Serbovia, and the tourism sector is rapidly growing in Serbovia.
Law
Serbovian judicial system
Criminal law
Serbovia has a strict criminal law, with death penalty in effect for high treason, 1st degree murder and terrorism, and severe punishments for various other felonies.
(more to come)
Crime in Serbovia
Law enforcement
Royal Serbovian Militia/Korolevskiy Serboviyj Militsiya
The primary law enforcement authority in Serbovia is the Royal Serbovian Militia or Korolevskiy Serboviyj Militsiya, also known as KSM. It is divided geographically into 25 Militia Districts, according to the 25 provinces of Serbovia. These districts are in turn divided into departments organized after the municipalities inside the District's jurisdiction. The departments are usually divided into precincts each taking care of an area of the department's jurisdiction, and specialized divisions such as Traffic and Internal Affairs. Some larger Militia departments also have specialized Organized Crime squads that combat organized crime along with other authorities. Militia also investigates "ordinary" crimes, such as burglaries, robberies, rapes and murders. Uniformed Militia officers always patrol in pairs. They wear body armor and are armed with Serbovian-made handguns. Militia patrol cars always carry shotguns or rifles. In urban areas, foot and bike patrols are also common.
KSM patrol car in rural Serbovia:
Royal Serbovian Special Militia/Korolevskiy Serboviyj Spetsialnoye Militsiya
There is also a special militia agency called Royal Serbovian Special Militia, or Korolevskiy Serboviyj Spetsialnoye Militsiya, which investigates organized crime, frauds and smuggling in co-operation with local Militia departments. In addition, KSSM assists local Militias when they face crimes spreading to several militia jurisdictions, such as kidnappings and bank robbery waves, and investigates special felonies such as computer crime. Also, KSSM is responsible for the security of traffic systems, such as ships, airplanes and trains. Most of KSSM's employees are plainclothes detectives, but the Special Militia also employs uniformed security and patrol personnel, specialists such as crime scene technicians and auxiliary support personnel.
KSSM personnel patrolling in Petrograd Main Train Station:
Military
Armiya Korolevsko Serboviya or Royal Army of Serbovia, the Serbovian military, is composed of three branches of service: Land Forces, Navy and Air Force. In addition, there are paramilitary OMON troops responsible for internal security and also Border and Coast Guard Corps, which are under the control of Ministry of Internal Affairs.
The AKS is a mix of professional soldiers and conscripts. Each Serbovian male must serve 9 months-2 years in the Serbovian military, after which they'll be in reserve until 55 years of age. Reservists also regularly participate in refreshment courses.
The King of Serbovia is the commander-in-chief of the AKS, while the Ministry of Defence takes care of administration of the AKS. Royal General Staff is responsible of directing the operations and administration of the AKS under the King and the Ministry of Defence. The Royal General Staff is divided into four branches:Operational Directorate, Personnel and Training Directorate, Materials Directorate and Intelligence Directorate. Current Royal Chief of Staff is general Jevgeni Voronin.
Royal Land Forces
The Land Forces are composed of both all-professional units and also of units in which officers and senior NCO's are professionals and lower ranked personnel are conscripts. The highest Land Forces command is the Royal Land Forces General Staff, commanded by general Vyacheslav Orlov and responsible for management and command of the Land Forces.
The Land Forces are divided into three military districts:Petrograd, Zelogorsk and Yakovlev. Air Force equivalents to these districts are the Air Defence Districts. Each Military District is commanded by a liutenant general, and peacetime the districts are responsible of administration and operational command of the army units in their area. Wartime the units are grouped into Army Corps.
As with all branches of the AKS, the Land Forces mostly use equipment manufactured in Serbovia.
Royal Guard
The Royal Guard is the all-professional elite force of the Royal Serbovian Army. It serves both as a bodyguard force for the royal family and an elite combat force. The most visible mission of the Royal Guard is the ceremonial guard of the Royal Palace, and Royal Guard soldiers standing guard outside Royal Palace are popular among Serbovian people and foreign tourists. Royal Guard receives the best equipment in AKS service, and it's soldiers are trained in various forms of combat.
Chevalier Guard Regiment
The Chevalier Guard Regiment is the finest unit of the entire AKS, it's responsibility being the protection of members of the Romanov family. Even though Chevalier Guard's most visible task is providing ceremonial guards for the Royal Palace, it's also responsible of protecting the Royal Palace and the Romanov family from terrorists and other threats. Members of the Chevalier Guard are among the best-trained soldiers in Europe, and they are highly skilled in both armed and unarmed combat. It is rumored that the Chevalier Guard maintains a special operations unit that acts as the King's personal commando unit, but the government staunchly denies this and no proof to these arguments exists. The Chevalier Guard Regiment is based at the Chevalier Guard Barracks near Royal Palace.
Two soldiers of the Chevalier Guard Regiment in ceremonial guard duty outside the Royal Palace
Royal Guards' Cavalry Brigade
Royal Guards' Cavalry Brigade is an elite armored unit of the AKS. It is equipped with finest tanks and armored vehicles in Serbovian use, and it's members are better trained than most soldiers serving in armored units. It forms a part of Serbovian Rapid Reaction Forces, and thus constantly trains for various scenarios and is prepared to defend Serbovia and it's people or venture overseas to perform peacekeeping missions. In addition to it's task as an elite combat force, it has a special mission to provide ceremonial guards to the Royal General Staff, and for this task it maintains a detachment in Petrograd.
Royal Guards' "Zelogorsk" Cuirassier Division
Royal Guards' "Zelogorsk" Cuirassier Division traces it roots back to year 1733, when King Vladislav II founded the Zelogorsk Cuirassier Regiment during the Great Army Reform. Soon the unit was sent to repel foreign invaders along with the rest of the Serbovian army, and it gained fame defending the city of Zelogorsk against numerically superior foreign invaders. Luckily the Serbovians sent soldiers to break the siege, and the Regiment survived after defending the city of Zelogorsk for months. Due to it's heroism in battle, King Vladislav elevated the Regiment into the Royal Guards status. In the 1850's several other regiments were merged with the Zelogorsk Cuirassier Regiment, and it became the Royal Guards' "Zelogorsk" Cuirassier Division. As the nature of land warfare changed, in 1910's the division abandoned it's horses and was reformed as Royal Guards' "Zelogorsk" Grenadier Division. Howewer, in the 1930's the division became a Cuirassier unit again, only this time it was equipped with trucks, halftracks and armored cars instead of horses. Today the division is one of the finest units in the AKS and forms a part of the SRRF. In addition it has a ceremonial task like all Royal Guard units, providing ceremonial guards for several military headquarters and bases in Zelogorsk Military District of Southern Serbovia. The Division is composed of Royal Guards' "Zelogorsk" Cuirassier Regiment, Royal Guards' "Kronberg" Cuirassier Regiment and King's Own Cossacks Regiment, along with various support elements.
Royal Guards' "Yakovlev" Cuirassier Division
Royal Guards' Mountaineer Brigade
Regular Army
Royal Air Force
Security and intelligence agencies
Sluzhba Bezopasnosti Serboviyj/Serbovian Security Agency
SBS or Serbovian Security Agency is the government bureau responsible for internal security of Serbovia. It reports to the Prime Minister of Serbovia, and is responsible of counter-terrorism, counter-intelligence and monitoring and disrupting revolutionary activity and any activity which could threaten Serbovian national security. It is also responsible for protection of the national leadership (excluding the king, who is protected by the Chevalier Guard) and the government buildings.
Korolevskij Bezopasnostj Korpus/Royal Security Corps
Royal Security Troops, known in Serbovia shortly as KBK, serve as special internal security troops under the Ministry of Internal Affairs. They are organized in a military fashion, and are equipped with light infantry weapons and urban control equipment. The KBK troops are fully motorized and their mission is to assist other law enforcement and security agencies in maintaining the internal security of Serbovia. The missions of KBK vary from quelling civil unrest to counter-insurgency operations. KBK units can also be used abroad for peacekeeping missions.
