Sashaslav

This article is about the second-largest city in the Eastern realms. For the founder of the Kingdom of Gasaria, see Sashaslav the Great.

Sashaslav Сашаслав
Skyline of Sashaslav City State Congress in the Old Sashaslav (Старый Сашаслав) part of Vilody district Statue of Vanya Semenov Market streets in Sashaslav mixed with residential buildings Milos River in the Dolinka district
Coat of arms
Country	Gasaria
Province	Sasha
Population
• Urban	2,924,293
• Metro	3,500,000+
Demonym	Sashaslavite

Sashaslav (Gasarian: Сашаслав) is the capital and most populous city of Gasaria. With an official estimated population of 2,924,293, Sashaslav is the second-largest city in the Eastern realms behind Moldoss and the eighth-largest in the whole Wider Realms. An additional 500,000 reside in the city's surrounding area. A global city, Sashaslav is an important cultural and financial centre and is recognized as one of the most multicultural cities in the world. The political centre of Gasaria, Sashaslav is home to the State Congress.

The city is situated in the Vlad Valley by the Gasal River, in the inland of the country with a humid continental climate. Sashaslav is the metropolis of the Gasarian province of Sasha. It is a major railway, highway, and air-transport hub of the South-East. The Sashaslav Subway, opened in 1930, is one of the busiest metro systems in the Eastern realms.

Gasarian, the national language, and Common, including Gaso-Common, are the most spoken primary languages―dozens of other languages are spoken in various neighbourhoods. The Sashaslav Assembly is the legislature, with a directly-elected mayor serving as the city's chief executive. The city's government is unique among Gasarian local goverments in that its borders and governance is defined by statute from the national State Congress rather than from the authority of the province, which is Sasha. The Sashaslav Police Force is the city's principal law enforcement agency and is one of two such forces in Gasaria, alongside the National Police Force. The Gasarian Armed Forces maintain an presence in the city with its Sashaslav Command, defending property and personnel associated with the national government, although a majority of the city is occupied by the City Defence Forces, a paramilitary. Crime and safety remains a significant issue in several areas of the city.

Sashaslav is the anchor of the Gasarian economy, concerning over half the country's productivity and wealth. It is described as the primate city of Gasaria. It is home to the Sashaslav Stock Exchange, the largest in the South-East, as well as Gasaria's largest banks, GBank and SvogosBank. The city's economy is diversified with financial services, education, arts, and manufacturing strengths. Wealth inequality is vast, with slums developing in several sectors of the city.

Name

Sashaslav was historically a common male first name within Gasaria when Old Gasarian was spoken. The city was named in honour of Sashaslav the Great who is fabled to have dominated the region during the Middle era. The province of Sasha was named after the city in the pre-Modern era.

The city is affectionally nicknamed Sashik.

History

Sashaslav in 1955, during the Slowdown.

The area of Sashaslav is estimated to have been continuously inhabited since the 4th century C, first known as Vilody, now the name for the central district of the city. Sashaslav was officially established in 1192 in the Kingdom of Gasaria.

During the Eastern War, the Battle of Sashaslav was won by the Federate movement who established the State of Gasaria to be part of the First Federate Union. The city went on to become one of the most populous and important cities of the federation.

The city opened its subway in 1930.

Ever since the Visit of 1954 and the onset of the Slowdown, Sashaslav experienced massive waves of immigration.

Sashaslav was the epicentre of the Popular Uprisings in Gasaria, becoming the capital of an independent Gasaria in 1968.

During the Federate-Gasarian War, the Siege of Sashaslav lasted from 1976 to 1978. Gasaria's victory cemented the second phase of the war. During the conflict, the energy sector of Gasaria's economy expanded significantly and the city recovered its position as a major financial centre.

Sashaslav in 1989, the post-war recovery.

Sashaslav City started construction in 1988 and was completed in 1992 in the Vilody district.

Geography

Sashaslav is located in the Vlad Valley in the centre of the province of Sasha. An inland city, the Gasal River strikes through it heading downstream to the sea.

Districts and neighbourhoods

The following section details each district of Sashaslav and their associated neighbourhoods.

Vilody (Вилоди) is the central district of Sashaslav, as well as its primary financial centre.

• Sashaslav City (Сашаслав Сити)
• Old Sashaslav (Старый Сашаслав)
• Golden Strip (Золотая Полоса)

Lebyev (Лебйев) is an old district of the city with a prominent entertainment district.

Dolinka (Долинка) is an industral district with a mix of pre- and post-Slowdown elements.

Stoyoreki (Стоёреки) is an old district to the north.

Novyy Gorod (Новый Город; literally "New Town") is a primarily residential suburb, almost entirely post-Slowdown with large cheap apartment complexes.

Demographics

The greater urban area of Sashaslav has an estimated population of 3.5 million, about half of Gasaria's population. Gasarian is the primary language of the city; Common and its veneculars are spoken as a lingua franca between ethnic groups. Tasian, Olegrian, Molri, Novdon, Ardelan, Khersian, and Calay are reported to be spoken.

Cityscape

Sashaslav is predominately urban with a high population density. Its neighbourhoods are highly diverse in development and economic prosperity with various affluent and slum areas. Sashaslav City is the city's primary central business district with many post-Slowdown skyscrapers. Pre-Slowdown architecture is prevalent in many of the city's historical districts, including Old Sashaslav.

Education

Sashaslav University is the oldest university in Gasaria. The Sashaslav School Council is the governing school board.

The Stanislav Polytechnique is a trade school in Sashaslav.

Culture and contemporary life

See also: Culture of Gasaria

Vilody is the central district of Gasaria, and is home to the Sashaslav City complex of office buildings. Vilody has the Sashaslav Stock Exchange as well as GBank and SvogosBank, the two major private banks of Gasaria. The Golden Strip within the district is an affluent luxury shopping district. On the peripheral of Vilody are the Sashaslav markets.

Lebyev is the primary entertainment district of Sashaslav. The district is home to the Grand Free State Theatre operated by the government of Gasaria under the Free State Stage Company, which directs the Free State Symphony Orchestra and the Free State Dance Ensemble. The Basov Theatre, Sashaslav City Theatre, and the Sasha-International Theatre are the most major stage venues in the area. The Nefcom Cinema is the city's and district's most prestigious movie theatre. Lebyev is home to dozens of smaller independent venues.

Gastronomy in Sashaslav is manifested in both a vibrant culture of street food alongside fine dining in affluent communities. Kotlety v blinchike is the most common sandwich street food served in most urban corners of the city.

The Festival of Gasarian Freedom is the largest and state-supported festival in the first week of July, adjacent to Independence Day concurrent with the Free State Military Parade. The Sashaslav Multicultural Festival occurs in the first week September. The Calay Heritage Week occurs in the last week of September. The Sashaslav International Film Festival typically occurs in late October to early November.

Transportation

The Sashaslav Subway is an aging system.

Sashaslav is an important transportation hub for road, rail, and air networks the South-East, and is connected to the ocean via the Gasal River from the Port of Olograd downstream.

The Sashaslav Transit Authority operates the city's bus system and the Sashaslav Subway, the city's rapid transit system. The Sashaslav Express is a commuter rail system operated by private enterprise Transportation Solutions.

The city is connected to the national Avtostrada highway system.

See also

• Gasaria