Karazhavia

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Location of Karazhavia (green)

**Karazhavia**, officially the **Democratic Republic of Karazhavia**, is a transcontinental country located at the boundary of Eastern Europe and Western Asia. It is a part of the North Caucasus region, and is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the northwest, Kazakhstan to the northeast, Georgia to the southwest, and Azerbaijan to the south. Saray Qala is the capital and largest city.

The Democratic Republic of Karazhavia was formed in 1996, following the Revolution of Strength which saw the end of the Republic of Karazhavia. The Republic of Karazhavia was preceded by the Karazhavian Soviet Socialist Republic (1919-1972), which had been incorporated into the Soviet Union, but reclaimed independence in 1972. The vast majority of the country's population (89,1%) is nominally Christian (Eastern Orthodox), but the constitution does not declare an official religion and all major political forces in the country are secularist. Though Russian is spoken widely, the official language is Karazhavian.

Karazhavia is a developing country and ranks 88th on the Human Development Index. It has a low rate of literacy (137nd with 85.5%), and low levels of economic development, but a low rate of unemployment (106th with 6.60%). The ruling Karazhavian People’s Independence Party, in power since 1999, has been accused of authoritarian leadership and the deterioration of the country's human rights record, including increasing restrictions on civil liberties, particularly on press freedom and political repression.

The politics of Karazhavia takes place in a framework of a presidential republic with a unicameral parliament. The President of Karazhavia, also referred to as the Leader ("köşbasşı") is the head of state. Bakhmut Qalqani has ruled Karazhavia since 1999.

## Etymology

The name 'Karazhavia' might originate from the Proto-Turkic word *karsak*, 'steppe fox'. The Greek suffix *-ia* means "land" or "place of", so *Karazhavia* can be literally translated as "land of the steppe foxes".

## History

Karazhavia has been inhabited since the Paleolithic era, with the most notable culture being the ancient Koban culture. The Karazhavian territory was a key constituent of the Eurasian trading Steppe Route, the ancestor of the terrestrial Silk Roads. Some archaeologists believe that humans first domesticated the horse (i.e., ponies) in the region's mountains. Thus it is sometimes mistakenly construed that the national animal of Karazhavia is the horse, when in fact it is the corsac fox, for which the country is most likely named after.

In the 18th century, the area now known as Karazhavia was part of the Russian Empire. In the late 18th century the Karazhavians took advantage of Pugachev's Rebellion, which was centred on the Volga area, to raid and loot Russian and Volga German settlements. The ensuing riches led to the founding of the Kingdom of Karazhavia by King Balta I.

The Karazhavian national awakening began in the 1800s as several figures started promoting an Karazhavian national identity among the general populace. Widespread farm buyouts by Karazhavians and the resulting rapidly growing class of land-owning farmers provided the economic basis for the formation of this new "Karazhavian identity".

The kingdom was eventually overthrown during the War of National Independence, fought between the royalist army and the land-owning farmers. In February 1888 the Republic of Karazhavia was founded.

A new constitution was adopted in a referendum, and elections were held in 1888. Both pro-government and opposition candidates were allowed to participate. The Republic of Karazhavia was relatively liberal compared to other régimes at that time, and the régime never used violence against political opponents.

After the collapse of the Russian Empire during World War I, the short-lived Transcaucasian Democratic Federative Republic was declared in neighboring republics of Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Armenia. In 1919, the Red Army invaded Karazhavia, and the Republic of Karazhavia was incorporated into the Soviet Union as the Karazhavian Soviet Socialist Republic.

The Soviet regime was overthrown in 1972, when the Karazhavian Republican Movement reclaimed independence and won the resulting Soviet-Karazhavian War. After the re-establishment of a Republic on 11 March 1972, Axmet Bilimdi was selected to be its first leader. Bilimdi hoped to guide the country away from its Soviet past and supported liberal reforms. As a result of 50 years of Soviet occupation, the second republic of Karazhavia was politically unstable and economically weak. and lasted until 1996, when conservative ultranationalists led by Bakhmut Qalqani organized a coup d'état known as the Revolution of Strength, and overthrew the liberal republicans.

After an array of unsuccesful, short and chaotic presidencies between 1996-1999, the leader of the revolution, Bakhmut Qalqani, assumed office in 1999 as Köşbasşı (”the Leader”) of the newly formed Democratic Republic of Karazhavia and began re-instating Soviet-era laws and functions, naming his nephew, Giorgi Vakilov, as prime minister.

## Government and politics

Karazhavian politics takes place in a framework of a presidential republic with a unicameral parliament. The President of Karazhavia is head of state as well as the supreme commander of the armed forces.

Executive power is exercised by the government, at its top sits a ceremonial prime minister, directly appointed by the President. Legislative power is de jure vested in the unicameral parliament, the National Assembly (*Erejeler*), however the president may enact decrees that are executed the same way as laws, for undisputed time.

The ruling Karazhavian People’s Independence Party, in sole power since 1996, has been accused of authoritarian leadership and the deterioration of the country's human rights record, including increasing restrictions on civil liberties, particularly on press freedom and political repression.

The National Assembly consists of 50 deputies (two for each district) elected to five year terms on the basis of direct electoral suffrage by secret ballot (though elections are generally marred by violence, repression and widespread electoral fraud). The main function of the parliament is to draft laws, though in practice, lawmaking is generally left to the government, and most often directly by president.

The Karazhavian People’s Independence Party has 39 seats in the Erejeler. Opposition parties are as follows: The Liberal Front for Progress and Justice for Karazhavia with 6 seats; The Communist Party of Karazhavia with 3 seats; The Fraternity of National Pride “Ulttıq” with 2 seats. The opposition is largely a illusory one.

## Economy

*Main article: qus*

The qus or құс (ISO code: KKZ ; sign қ) is the national currency of Karazhavia. The first iteration of the currency happened in the times of the Republic of Karazhavia (in 1896) and its successor, the Karazhavian Soviet Socialist Republic. Eventually, it was converted to the Soviet ruble. When the Democratic Republic of Karazhavia was formed, a new design of the qus, still in use today, was issued.

## Language

*Main article: Karazhavian language*

Karazhavian or Karazh is a Turkic language of the Kipchak branch spoken in Karazhavia by Karazhavians. It is closely related to Kazakh, Kyrgyz and Karakalpak. It is the official language of Karazhavia.