Lukinagrad

Democratic State of Lukinagrad Demokratska Država Lukinagradska
Motto: Životot e naš
Capital and	Lukinagrad (city)
Official languages	Lukan
Demonym(s)	Lukan
Government
• Prime Minister	Wiktor Nikolai fan Lukansestatt
Establishment
• Establishment by King Luka I	1061
• Declaration of the Democratic State	1828
• Perpetual Treaty of Friendship and Unification	2018
Area
•	1,300 km2 (500 sq mi)
Population
• Estimate	350.000
GDP (nominal)	estimate
• Total	$3.500.000.000
• Per capita	$10.000
Currency	Denar
Driving side	right
Internet TLD	.lkg

The Democratic State of Lukinagrad, also known in Variot as Het Stattlant Lukansestatt and known informally as Lukinagrad, is an autonomous state of Het Huisselant Variota located in southern Argis. The Democratic State of Lukinagrad is a small state bordered to the north by wilderness and to the south, west and east by the Keelpijppassage. Before its inclusion into Het Huisselant, the country maintained significant international economic ties with Het Huisselant, which was its primary trade partner, as well as historical ties. These ties have continued on in a domestic form since the inclusion. Its size is just over 1.300 km2, with a population of 350.000. Its capital and namesake Lukinagrad holds the majority of the population with an estimated 275.000 inhabitants. The Democratic State of Lukinagrad is the second smallest state, autonomous or independent, in Argis after Llalta.

History

The country takes its name from its first King, Luka I Gjeorgiev. Originally the leader of a band of nomads, Luka I settled down at the site of modern Lukinagrad and named the settlement Glavengrad or 'Capital City' until it was renamed in his liking after his death in 1074. The Lukan Kingdom managed to maintain and grow its influence and territory in the area over the ages until 1534, when they refused to sign the Treaty of Ferrefaaierhafen. The treaty established Variotan hegemony over the waters of the Keelpijppassage and required each port city to provide a concession for Variotan traders. Using the Frijkaapers, Het Huisselant managed to hurt Lukan trading enough to make King Luka VI Gjeorgiev sign the treaty in 1538, although the damage to the Lukan military and trade fleets was done by that time and the Kingdom never returned to its peak.

The Democratic State of Lukinagrad was established in 1828 after the last King of the Gjeorgiev dynasty, King Branko III Gjeorgiev, died without a legitimate heir. Without other nobility existing with a strong enough claim on the entire Kingdom, it fell apart, with only the capital and surrounding rural areas remaining within the territory of the Democratic State.

In 2018, a large political scandal opened up the nation economically and politically and saw the election of Wiktor Nikolai fan Lukansestatt, tobacco entrepreneur and leader of the Sojuz na Vartotanski Imigranti party, as Prime Minister. Following this, considering the state of the nation, the Democratic State of Lukinagrad decided to sign a Perpetual Treaty of Friendship and Unification with Het Huisselant Variota, officially becoming a part of the federation in exchange for autonomy and economic benefits, including a bulk sum of 10 billion Lukan Denar and the establishment of a civilian airport at the cost of Het Huisselant.

Politics

Government

Lukinagrad is officially part of and an autonomous federal state within Het Huisselant Variota. Within the framework of Het Huisselant, the position of head of state is shared between the leaders of the five states while the position of head of government is held by the current Foorste Frauwe fan'es Ferantwortelik fan'es Folke of Het Huisselant Variota is Dina Diva. Prime Minister Wiktor Nikolai fan Lukansestatt is the head of government.

Administrative districts

Lukinagrad is divided into ten administrative districts, further split into urban and rural districts. Before the 1968 change of the parliament, each district elected five seats. Since 1968, this has been changed and the fifty seats are decided on a national level. Seven of the districts are urban, three are rural; all seven urban districts belong to the city of Lukinagrad. Due to the nature of the urban districts, they do not have a designated capital; the three rural districts do feature a designated place where one will find the district's community hall.

District Name	Urban or Rural	Population Figure
Tutunpole	Rural	32,500
Kompirpole	Rural	15,000
Zoltanoki	Rural	17,500
Pazar Ploštad	Urban	50,000
Slobodapole	Urban	25,000
Porta Lukinagradska - Zapad	Urban	66,000
Meso Jama	Urban	34,000
Besilkapole	Urban	55,000
Porta Lukinagradska - Istok	Urban	20,000
Zadvorski Red	Urban	25,000

Military

The Lukan Armed Forces is a 1,600 man large force divided between three branches. The Lukan Army is the largest branch, counting 1,000 personnel, and the only one of the three that maintains a conscript force. Within the Democratic State, every male that turns 18 is entered into the draft lottery. Every draftee ends up in the army, although draftees with exceptional skills may be invited to join the other branches. The Democratic State offers those chosen the option to buy off their draft or provide a willing volunteer to take their place. This practice of providing a willing volunteer has stimulated a healthy market between richer families and rural ones, with many farmers sending their son off in return for a payment.

The Lukan Army maintains a light infantry battalion, a special forces company, support staff and military police. Since 2016, the Lukan Army no longer uses tanks but instead maintains a small amount of PT-1966 Stoomfaaiers armed with 73 mm guns. Conscripts are generally limited to participating in the light infantry battalion, although talented draftees that decide to remain within the Lukan Army may be moved to the special forces company or the support staff. Only volunteer troops are allowed to serve in the military police, a thing that has seen recent critique due to the military police being seen as a position for older, less ambitious troops looking towards their retirement from the army.

The Lukan Air Force is a 300 man large force that operates three flights of three fighter jets. The Lukan Air Force maintains only one base, the LAF Base 'King Luka III', home to their sole flight of Khiimori 33 fighter jets. While the effectiveness of such a small amount of airplanes has been called into question throughout the years, no cabinet has attempted to pull back funding or retire the force, as that would be deemed a severe blow to national morale and pride.

LNV Base 'King Nikolai II' houses the 300-man large Lukan Navy, which maintains three patrol vessels. It works closely with the Lukan Coast Guard, which additionally maintains its fleet of two patrol vessels at the LNV Base 'King Nikolai II'. Furthermore, the Lukan Navy works closely together with the Variotan Faai'nere Marienemagt to combat crime within the Keelpijppassage. Its three patrol vessels have participated in Variotan-led detachments and otherwise act as a backup force when needed. Naval readiness is thus maintained at a high level, a thing for which the Lukan Navy is often praised.

Economy

Logo of the famous LuDistilleries.

The Lukan economy is somewhat diversified, although lack of economic growth in recent years have shown themselves through the relatively old age of their industry, with items such as machinery having been updated little to none. The three main industries are cigarettes, canned goods and distilled drinks, all three of which see both domestic demand and are popular among Variotan citizens. While the Democratic State produces a relatively large amount of agricultural produce, this sees very little export, with domestic usage by consumers and industry alike being the primary market for these goods.

Tobacco, corn, grains of various sorts and potatoes are the main agricultural products. Lukan tobacco is relatively low in quality but is grown in large amount, with almost all farms in the nation having a small patch of tobacco at the minimum. This tobacco sees a steady market with the local cigarette industry and criminals, who manufacture counterfeits of more expensive foreign brands. Both are known for offering payment in cigarettes in addition to the option for cash, with the percentage of Lukan smokers being deemed as high as forty percent of the population.

The cigarette industry consists of four businesses, three of which fabricate cigarettes and one that imports them. TobaKan produces Lukan Silver and Lukan Gold cigarettes, upscale brands that see a large market with Variotan tourists and the Lukan middle class. Petrov Cigarettes produces Petrov's Regular and Petrov's Strong, which see a large market among the lower classes. Lukansestatt Tabbakswaaren produces Lukan Blue, Lukan Green and Lukan White cigarettes, respectively light, menthol and even lighter cigarettes. Kostov Import imports foreign brands of cigarettes, primarily Variotan brands.

The government, seeking to revitalize its industries, consolidated the three cigarette manufacturers into LuGov Tobacco. It did so through the 'Variotan method' of a capital injection, the government taking a part of shares equal to said cash injection while the former independent business owners received a share equal to the value of their companies.

LuDistilleries, a formerly state owned enterprise recently bought by the Variotan Vooters Food Group, is primarily known for its brand of Vodka. Aptly named LuVodka, it gained popularity recently after it had a successful viral campaign named 'I LuVodka'. However, it also distributes and manufactures other distilled beverages, juices and soft drinks. In the 1960s, it attempted to bring out a tobacco-flavored soft drink named 'TobaCola'. While it saw a reasonable domestic market, the drink flopped international and was discontinued in 1966. The few remaining unopened bottles of the drink have become collectors items, fetching prices in the lower range of four figures.