Bulgenstaz

People's Republic of Bulgenstaz
Flag Coat of arms
Motto: "Work, Pride, and Unity."
Capital and largest city	Khenkhourt
Official languages	Bulgenstazi, Dniesterian
Ethnic groups (2018)	Bulgenstazi (57.3%) Uzekstazi (25.7%) Kozak (12.4%) Dniesterian (4.1%) Other (.5%)
Demonym(s)	Bulgenstazi
Government	Parliamentary Republic
• Prime Minister	Bavrov Krusken II
Population
• 2018 census	19,630,000
GDP (nominal)	estimate
• Per capita	8,000
Gini (2018)	.22 low
HDI (2018)	.619 medium
Currency	Khourt (BZK)
Driving side	left
Calling code	+72
Internet TLD	.bnz

Bulgenstaz, also referred to as the People's Republic of Bulgenstaz, is a small socialist nation in the northern region of Marenesia. The country name is derived from the river Bulga, which the native population had largely settled upon in pre-colonial times. The citizens of Bulgenstaz are a mixture of ethnic groups varying by geography. Cultural and religious practices range from traditional animism to Salvian Catholicism.

History

Precolonial

Before the colonial system under the Grand Duchy of Gdańsk, Bulgenstaz consisted of city-states based along various rivers. The four greatest were the Four Glittering Pearls: Khenkhourt, Ukral, Bulgando, and Jurstast (now modern day "Khenkhourt, Uzków, Bayrsav, and Novatiraspol," respectively). These city-states held control over various small villages around them in an imperial manner and defined much of the Bulgenstazi culture and legal practices. This time period was known as the "Little States Period".

The city-states maintained significant levels of autonomy (relative to the rest of colonial Bulgenstaz) which translated into their eventual status of Nezavigorod after the Liberation War. The city-states have formed many of the important cultural practices, which vary as widely as the city-states themselves do. In more recent times, however, the importance of the large population centers of these cities diminish as other large cities sprout under the PRB.

The cities largely maintained themselves under tributary systems, where villages were required to give tribute to the city-states. This practice eventually facilitated road networks between the variously developed regions during the Little States Period. Due to the constant shifting of hands, the majority of cultural practices were largely mixed outside of the city-states, it was only during colonialism where citizens began to hold onto regional ethnic groups.

Notably during the Little States Period was the lack of cooperation among the three city-states at the time. It was very common for wars and assassination attempts to occur. In fact, a war between Ukral and Bulgendo was not resolved until 20 years after colonization by the Grand Duchy of Gdańsk.

Independant State

The First Bulgenstazi Revolution

In 1939, the Bulgenstazi people led an armed revolt against the governor of the Bulgenstazi colony, Sergei Slovenóv. Amid tensions in the Duchy, the colonial army was unable to properly respond to the military uprising, and it rapidly grew in strength. The revolt began under the pretext of liberation, with much of the populace supporting the removal of colonial authority. It was only under the leadership of Oles Armitov where the revolution took a more socialist undertone. The rebels would eventually be dubbed as the "Revolutionary Guard," and would serve as a paramilitary force for the newly established Socialist Republic of Red Bulgenstaz (SRRB). Upon marching on Zalensk, the flag of the Duchy of Minsk was burned and Engelstov appointed himself as Prime Minister of the SRRB.

Under Armitov, a harsh crackdown of dissent began, enforced by the Revolutionary Guard, who were loyal to the Prime Minister. Very quickly minority groups of religious and ethnic Bulgenstazi were rounded up and imprisoned to work camps. Public opinion of the SRRB quickly plummeted, and terrorist attacks and bombings became frequent, and Armitov used martial law to further clamp down on public dissent. Engelstov's rapid attempts at collectivization and crash industrialization lead to increased confusion among political allies, and large-scale famine. After a second attempted purge of SRRB, public discontent grew to a second Bulgenstazi Revolution.

The Second Bulgenstazi Revolution

Despite a large array of insurgent movements against the SRRB, the revolution was led by Dimitry Medhelson, who demanded mass political reform while still adhering the socialist economy under the Armitov. Medhelson founded what he called the "Bugen Rouge Party", which would promote and maintain stability in Bulgenstaz. Support skyrocketed, and most other reform movements were unable to maintain ground and simply backed the Bulgen Rouge and their "New Revolutionary Guard".

Clashes between the new and old revolutionary guards created a massive death toll of the New Revolutionary Guard, but anti-government fervor only increased their numbers as they marched to Khenkhourt.

Among the developments of Anti-Armitov movements came the most tumultuous, and important. Grigriov Gregov, the Grand Marshal of the fledgling Bulgenstazi Army and the Bulgenstazi Navy, and other high ranking military generals declared the Armitov government as "illigitimate" and immediately ceased fire with the Medhelson rebels. They were later pardoned by the Bulgen Rouge on account of their actions against Armitov, but were expelled from their positions for neglecting to protect the citizenry before and during the Second Revolution.

Prime Minister Armitov pressed for peace but was ultimately gunned down. Medhelson redrafted the Bulgenstazi constitution and enabled a functioning democracy which is still used as a base for the modern Bulgenstazi political system.

Rule Under the Bulgen Rouge

While the intention of Medhelson had been pure in the drafting of the Bulgenstazi constitution, it had been largely exploited in the early days of the People's Republic of Bulgenstaz.

Prime Minister Medhelson, who had been elected shortly after the Second Revolution, had died of malaria only two years into his term.

Geography

Bulgenstaz is naturally hilly, with larger hills and mountainous regions toward the southern Agrillian Highlands. The flora of Bulgenstaz is tropical, and is considered among the most harsh in Eurth. For an outsider unfamiliar with navigating jungle terrain, it can take upwards of 30 minutes to move one mile. As such, roadways are both key to transportation, and scarce due to the difficulty of removing jungle growth.

The northernmost peninsula of Bulgenstaz is a massive tropical called the Ickgo Swamp. The region has few tall trees aside from Ichigum Trees, which produce a toxic, but powerful natural adhesive. While there are very few formal settlements within the Ickgo Swamp, many towns exist on the fringes of the swamp for capturing Ichigum, which is a coveted commodity throughout Bulgenstaz, primarily for its use in strong rubbers and even certain biodegradable plastics.

Regions

Okrugs

Each Okrug acts as a regional governing body; there are seven in total in Bulgenstaz. Some have varying levels of sovereignty such as Kozakstal and Dnestov. These regions also have their own minor capital, which must be a city governed by the Okrug. All Okrugs have a small 50 member group of elected officials from any party.

Okrug	Population	Description
Bolaskaw	3,230,000	Bolaskaw contains the capital, Khenkhourt, (though has no jurisdiction over it) and many larger coastal cities around it. Bolaskaw is the most ethnically mixed, with most Bulgenstazi immigrants settling within the region. This creates many small towns with large ethnic contrast from most of Bulgenstaz. The capital of Bolaskaw is Kruskengrad.
Nizhav	1,490,000	The capital of Nizhav is Novoroskow.
Uzekistaz	840,000	The capital of Uzekistaz is Bezna.
Petrovosków	1,570,000	The capital of Petrovoskow is Petrovosk
Kozakstal	650,000	The easternmost province of Bulgenstaz, and home to most of the ethnic Kozak. Has recently gained special levels of self-governance which enables them to raise their own military (so long as it is less than 20,000) and pass special economic legislation. This region sees the majority of the relatively small amount of mainland oil drilling still practiced in Bulgenstaz. The capital of Kozakstal is Vogrinek.
Dnestov	1,460,000	The capital of Dnestov is Orvow.
Nyeminsk	1,300,000	The capital of Nyeminsk is Nizhow.

Nezavigorod

The Nezavigorod are large cities within Bulgenstaz which act independently of regional authority of Okrugs. They may pass legislation within their Krasovet, which acts as an elected council of prominent Bulgen Rouge Party members. Currently, Nezavigorod may only elect officials from within the BRP, but this may possibly change in the future as Bulgenstaz opens itself to mulitpartisanship.

City	Population	Description
Khenkhourt	4,540,000	The capital of Bulgenstaz, and built around and over the headwaters of the Bulga River. It is home to Zalensk, the seat of the Bulgenstazi Parliament and Prime Minister, with a mansion dedicated to the Prime Minister on-site. Khenkhourt is also the primary docking area for the Dniester-Bulgenstaz fleet, with a vast docking area reserved for the fleet near Zalensk itself. Other notable features in Khenkhourt is "The Triumph of Bulgenstaz", a large concrete statue on the outskirts of the city built to commemorate the lives lost during the Bulgenstazi Liberation War.
Uzków	2,230,000	TBD
Bayrsaw	1,980,000	TBD
Novitiraspol	1,340,000	TBD

Culture

Cultural practices were largely based within the various precolonial city-states, which eventually spread regionally. It remains as a strong political force and holds relatively high levels of power as a legal entity.

Within the coastal regions, much of the building style is akin to the Slavic building style of Dniester. This is due to the significant presence of Dniesterian colonial administration, which eventually led to a significant cultural shift. Relative to the rest of Bulgenstaz, the coastal regions have the most democratizing influence. When coupled with the majority population, it drives Bulgenstazi politics. This region also sees the most wealth, as it is the seat of the capital, most government administration, and international trade ports.

In the jungle communities, cultural practices vary heavily from village to village. Oftentimes they are largely based on the larger regional cities.

A large Bulgenstazi cultural icon is the jaguar. It has been seen, across city-states, as a symbol of strength and skill. Throughout Bulgenstazi culture, the jaguar is used as a symbol of national pride. Notable examples of it's usage is the name of the original Bulgen Rouge Party, which was the "Rising Jaguar Party." The Jaguar is also recognized as the national animal of the Bulgenstazi. It is claimed King Jeruka of Bulganda rode a chariot of jaguars in his victory against Khenkhourt in the 4th century.

Political Structure

The Bulgenstazi political structure consists of different structures which hold various jurisdictions over each other. Among the most important are the Bulgenstazi People's Grand Parliament, the Communist Advisor's Council, the Prime Minister, and the Bulgenstazi People's Supreme Court. Among the Okrug and Nezavigorod are separate political structures which act similarly to the People's Grand Parliament, but enact policy on a regional level.

Communist Advisor's Council

The Communist Advisor's Council is a senate-like assembly who may overrule proposals from the People's Grand Parliament and the Prime Minister. Members are appointed by the Prime Minister and must be affirmed by the People's Grand Parliament. Members serve for up to 15 years, though they can be forcibly removed by a supermajority in the People's Grand Parliament.

The council serves primarily to confirm proposals from the PGP and as force of balance between the PGP and the Prime Minister. It may not draft its own legislation but can propose revisions for drafts in the PGP.

People's Supreme Court

The People's Supreme Court is the highest court in Bulgenstaz. It rules on issues with law-changing importance and is often a source of political change. The court has appointed members, with 15 judges at any time, who are appointed for life or until they resign. All members are appointed by the Prime Minister but can be overridden by a supermajority "no confidence" vote by the People's Grand Parliament or the Communist Advisor's Council.

Economy

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