Volkia

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Volkian Federative Republic Волжская Федеративная Республика
Flag Coat of arms
Motto: "Мы всегда свободны." "We are always free."
Volkian Federative Republic (dark green)
Oblasts of Volkia
Capital and largest city	Volkgoroda
Official languages	Volkian
Ethnic groups (2019)	45.1% Southern lupine 38.5% Northern lupine 15.5% mixed 0.9% other
Demonym(s)	Volkian
Government	Federal presidential constitutional republic
• President	Yuliya Surkova
• Vice President	Vladimir Burmakin
• Chairman of Parliament	Kiril Zhutov
• Chief Justice	Yulia Danilova
Legislature	Federation Assembly
• Upper house	Federal Council
• Lower house	People's Council
Formation
• Grand Duchy	365
• Grand Principality	November 9, 1154
• Tsardom	July 8, 1577
• Confederation	August 10, 1883
• Federation	April 17, 1888
• Current constitution	March 2, 1981
Area
• Total	1,396,700 km2 (539,300 sq mi)
• Water (%)	5.2%
Population
• 2019 estimate	77,549,180
• 2012 census	67,035,478
• Density	55.52/km2 (143.8/sq mi)
GDP (nominal)	2019 estimate estimate
• Total	$3.925 trillion
• Per capita	$49,968.69
Gini (2019)	27.1 low
SDI (2019)	0.889 very high
Currency	Korona (Ժ) (KOR)
Time zone	UTC+4, +5
Date format	MM/DD/YYY
Driving side	right
Calling code	+57
ISO 3166 code	VLK
Internet TLD	.vlk

Volkia (Volkian: Волкия), officially the Volkian Federative Republic (Volkian: Волжская Федеративная Республика), is a country situated on the western part of the continent of Itur, with a population of approximately 77.5 million as of 2019. Volkgoroda is the capital and largest city, followed by Mahigorod.

Volkia is located on the entirety of the western half of the continent of Itur, and shares a land border with South Hills to the northeast. The Mahigan Sea lies to the north, the Iturian Sea to the southwest, and the Gulf of Itur to the south. Volkia includes 16 administrative divisions that span across an area of 1,396,000 square kilometers (539,268 sq mi) with a largely boreal climate. The southern parts of the country are largely hemiboreal while the northern parts of the country show characteristics of hemiboreal, boreal, and tundra climates.

Various lupine tribes have inhabited modern Volkia since antiquity. A region named Volkia was documented in about 200 AD. Lupines began migrating south and eastward around 250-300 AD. The current capital and largest city, Volkgoroda, was founded during these migrations. By the 4th Century, lupine territories had come together to form the Grand Duchy of Volkgoroda. Volkgoroda continued to expand militarily and economically, eventually declaring the Grand Principality of Volkia in 1154. The Tsardom rose in 1578 following territorial acquisitions and growing dominance on the continent. The Lupine revolutions of 1880-1883 led to significant democratic rights.

The monarchy fell in 1883 and was replaced briefly with a confederation of the former provinces of the kingdom. Internal threats convinced state leaders to reevaluate the relationship between the provinces. A federal government would end up replacing the weak confederation in 1888. Growing corruption and economic instability in the late 1960s and early 1970s destabilized the country, leading to widespread protests and the impeachment and conviction of President Mikhail Avenov. He and former President Nikolay Beskryostnov were later indicted and convicted on federal charges.

Today, the sovereign state of Volkia is a federal constitutional republic led by a president. It is a highly developed nation with a very high standard of living, and maintains a strong social security and universal healthcare system, environmental protection, and tuition free university.

Etymology

The first usage of Volkia dates back to roughly 200 AD.

Politics

Governance

See also: Constitution of Volkia

The country is a federation and a presidential constitutional republic, where the president is both head of state and government. In the Volkian federalist system, citizens are subject to three levels of government: federal, provincial, and local. The local government's duties are commonly split between county and municipal governments. In almost all cases, executive and legislative officials are elected by a plurality vote of citizens by district. There is no proportional representation at the federal level, and it is very rare at lower levels. The Volkian Federative Republic is fundamentally structured as a multi-party representative democracy, with the federal government composed of three branches that regulate each other by a system of checks and balances:

Political system of the Volkian Federative Republic.

• Executive: The President is the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Defense Forces, can veto legislative bills before they become law, and appoints the Government of Volkia (Cabinet) and other officers, who administer and enforce federal laws and policies.
• Legislative: The bicameral Federation Assembly, made up of the Federal Council and the People's Council, makes federal law, declares war, approves treaties, has the power of the purse, and has the power of impeachment, by which it can remove sitting members of the government.
• Judiciary: The Supreme Federal Court and lower federal courts, whose judges are appointed by the president and confirmed by the Federal Council, interpret laws and overturn those they find unconstitutional.

The president is elected by popular vote for a four year term (eligible for a second term, but not a third term).

The People's Council has 450 voting members, each representing an electoral district for a two year term. Seats are apportioned among the provinces by population every eight years. At the 16th National Census taken in 2012 Lakinsk Oblast, the least populous province, had two representatives while Trakovaski Oblast, the most populous province, had 43. The Federal Council has 48 voting members with each province and the federal territory having three, elected at-large to six-year terms; one third of Federal Council seats are up for election every other year.

The Supreme Federal Court, led by the Chief Justice of Volkia, has twelve members who serve for life. The Chief Justice is selected by the President and confirmed by the Federal Council.

The oblast governments are structured in a roughly similar fashion. The governor (chief executive) of each province is directly elected. Some provincial judges and cabinet officers are appointed by the governors of the respective provinces, while others are elected by popular vote.

Foreign relations

The foreign relations of Volkia are handled by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Ministry is currently headed by Foreign Affairs Minister Nicholas Skorobogatov.

Volkia maintains diplomatic relations with nearly all independent nations, and hosts a multitude of foreign embassies in its capital. It is a largely neutral country, though in recent years the country has participated in military engagements near Volkian territory and is a founding member of the Kerilo Accord. Even so, the nation leans towards independence in foreign policy.

Military

Main article: Volkian Defense Forces

File:J-10.jpg

The Pasternak Aerospace J-10 Fang is the backbone of Volkian airpower.

The president holds the title of commander-in-chief of the country's armed forces and appoints its leaders, the Minister of National Defense and the General Staff. The Ministry of National Defense administers the armed forces, which is divided into the Army, Navy, and the Air Force. The Coast Guard falls under the Ministry of Internal Affairs during peacetime and the Department of the Navy during times of war. The number of active duty soldiers in 2014 was 277,965. The Reserves and National Guard brought the total number of troops to 481,754. Additionally, the Ministry of National Defense employed 75,000 civilians, not including contractors in 2014.

Military service is voluntary, though conscription may occur "when a crisis has overwhelmed the voluntary military force", through the Emergency Draft System. Forces can be rapidly deployed through the extensive transport aircraft fleet of the Air Force, or through the three aircraft carriers currently in service with the Navy.

In 2014 Volkia signed the Kerilo Accord, a military partnership with the nations of South Hills, Vekaiyu, and Listonia following the end of the 2014 Dverian War. Following the establishment of the Republic of North Dveria, the Defense Forces maintain an undisclosed number of troops in the country to assist and train the security forces.

Political divisions

Main Article: Subdivisions of Volkia

See Also: List of Volkian subdivisions by population

Volkia is a federation comprised of fifteen provinces (oblasts) and one federal territory. Provinces are split into raions for administrative purposes.

Provinces hold all power not delegated to the federal government according to the Constitution. This means that they must have a representative, republican style of government, obey the Constitution, as well as remain subordinate to the federal government. They are not allowed to unilaterally secede from the federation. Beyond this, they are fully autonomous: they ratify their own constitutions, freely organize their local governments (in accordance with the Constitution), and own and manage their own natural and financial resources. Every province has a bicameral legislature, similar to that of the federal legislature.

Every province and the capital territory receives three Councilmen in the Federal Council, as well as a set number of Deputies in the People's Council based upon population.

File:Laiatan political map color 1000px Redux.png

Law enforcement, judiciary, and crime

Main article: Law enforcement in Volkia

Law enforcement in Volkia is generally the responsibility of local police and sheriff's departments, with provincial police providing broader services. The Volkgoroda Metropolitan Police Department, which serves the Volkgoroda metropolitan area, is the largest in the country. Federal agencies like the Federal Investigative Service (FSR) and the Narcotics Enforcement Agency (NPA) have specialized duties, including protecting civil rights, investigating federal and international crimes, national security, enforcing drug laws, and investigating drug offenses. At the federal level and in every province, the legal systems operate on common law. Provincial courts conduct most criminal trials; federal courts handle certain designated crimes as well as certain appeals from the provincial criminal courts. Plea bargaining is very common; the vast majority of criminal cases in the country are settled by plea bargain rather than jury trial.

Judiciary

Main article: Judiciary of Volkia

Volkia's judiciary is the system of courts responsible for interpreting and applying Volkian law. The Volkian legal system is based on common law, and employs an adversarial system for determining the outcome of cases.

Crime statistics

Main article: Crime in Volkia

Geography

File:Appalakit Mountains.gif

View of the Great Appalach Mountains.

Laiatan is situated on the western part of the Itur continent, providing a massive coastline ripe for the nation's shipping industry. To the east are the Great Appalach Mountains, which separates Tano and Vulshain from Laiatan. The Vysoki Mountain Range dominates the northern landscape.

The lowest point of elevation in Laiatan is the Green Basin, located inside the Greenville Nature Preserve, at -290 ft (-88.4 m) below sea level. The highest point is Vysoki Mountain at 16,985 ft (5,177 m) above sea level.

Laiatan has fifteen provinces and one federal capital territory based on culture, history and geography. These provinces serve administrative purposes, as well as acting as an important part of citizens' self-identity. While most citizens see themselves as 'brothers and sisters of the Federation', many citizens also see themselves as a member of their somewhat autonomous province.

Much of southern Laiatan is agricultural. Heavy industry is also found in the center and north of the country, fueling the large population centers of the central region. The highest population density is in the center of the country, the location of many factories and job creators. Eis Island and Turnov Island are Laiatan's largest islands, which are part of the Kalskavo Island chain. Saphir Lake is the nation's largest lake.

Climate

In the Köppen climate classification, the country is split into three climate zones. The majority of the country lays within the boreal zone, characterized by warm summers and freezing winters. Within the country, the temperateness varies considerably between the southern coastal regions and the extreme north, showing characteristics of hemiboreal, boreal, and tundra climate.

Winters in southern Laiatan (when mean daily temperature remains below 0 °C or 32 °F) are usually about 100 days long, and in the inland the snow typically covers the land from about late November to April, and on the coastal areas such as Izmurod, snow often covers the land from late December to late March. Even in the south, the harshest winter nights can see the temperatures fall to −30 °C (−22 °F) although on coastal areas like Izmurod, temperatures below −30 °C (−22 °F) are very rare. Climatic summers (when mean daily temperature remains above 10 °C or 50 °F) in southern Laiatan last from about late May to mid-September, and in the inland, the warmest days of July can reach over 35 °C (95 °F). Although most of Laiatan lies on the taiga belt, the southernmost coastal regions are sometimes classified as hemiboreal.

In northern Laiatan, particularly in Kekur, the winters are long and cold, while the summers are relatively warm but short. The most severe winter days in Kekur can see the temperature fall down to −45 °C (−49 °F). The winter of the north lasts for about 200 days with permanent snow cover from about mid-October to early May. Summers in the north are quite short, only two to three months, but can still see maximum daily temperatures above 25 °C (77 °F) during heat waves. The northernmost areas of Kekur, a small part of Zukovsk, and Kalshkavo have a tundra climate.

The Laiatanese climate is suitable for cereal farming only in the southernmost regions, while the northern regions are suitable for animal husbandry.

Economy

File:Izmurod2.jpg

Izmurod is a major shipping port of Laiatan.

Economic Indicators
Nominal GDP	$3.425 trillion (Q2 2018)
Real GDP growth	2.5% (Q4 2017)
CPI inflation	1.9% (February 2012 - February 2013)
Employment-to- population ratio	70% (April 2013)
Unemployment	3.8% (June 2018)
Labor force participation rate	81% (June 2018)
Poverty	5.8% (2017)

Laiatan has a capitalist mixed economy which is fueled by abundant natural resources and high productivity. It also includes a highly skilled labor force, large capital stock, low levels of corruption and a high level of innovation. The service sector contributes approximately 67% of the total GDP, industry 31%, and agriculture 2%. The official average national unemployment rate in June 2018 was 3.8%.

Laiatan exports more than it imports, and has a trade surplus. The trade surplus in 2017 was $206 billion. In 2017, the largest import commodity was machinery. The largest export commodity in 2015 were fossil fuels (includes oil, natural gas, etc.) and precious materials.

In 2009, the private sector was estimated to constitute 84.4% of the economy, with federal government activity accounting for 6.3% and province and local government activity (including federal transfers) the remaining 9.3%. While its economy has reached a postindustrial level of development and its service sector constitutes 67.8% of GDP, Laiatan remains an industrial power. The leading business field by gross business receipts is wholesale and retail trade; by net income it is manufacturing.

Chemical products are the leading manufacturing field. It is a top producer of electrical and nuclear energy, as well as liquid natural gas, sulfur, phosphates, and salt. While agriculture accounts for just 2% of GDP, Laiatan is a top producer of wheat, rice and cotton. The National Statistics Service for Agriculture maintains agricultural statistics for products that include; wheat, rice, corn, cotton, oats and barley. In addition, the Ministry of Agriculture provides livestock statistics regarding beef, poultry, pork, along with dairy products. The Mining Association of Laiatan provides data pertaining to coal and minerals that include; aluminium, beryllium, copper, lead, magnesium, zinc, titanium and others.

Consumer spending comprises 71% of the Laiatanese economy in 2013. In August 2010, the Laiatanese labor force consisted of 44.5 million people. With 5.7 million people, government is the leading field of employment. The largest private employment sector is health care and social assistance, with 6.4 million people. About 52% of workers are unionized. Laiatan's federal government guarantees its workers with a minimum of 34 days paid vacation (20 paid days off, 13 public holidays) and also guarantees its workers with 12 weeks of paid family leave.

Agriculture

File:Agriculture in Laiatan.png

Top agricultural products in Laiatan.

The total area of cultivated land in Laiatan was estimated at 79,439 square miles (205,745 km2) in 2013. The production of meat has grown from 2.8 million tons in 2003 to 3.4 million tons in 2013.

In the years following the creation of the Federation, crop yields significantly increased. The provisional military government offered incentives to farmers that could produce large numbers of certain types of crops needed by the people of the country as well as the military. These incentives directly affected the future crops grown in Laiatan, combined with the climate, and today the main crops grown in Laiatan are reminiscent of the crops wanted by the government. Due to the large number of crops produced then and now, Laiatan is a major exporter of agricultural goods.

Today, large farms produce a large amount of agricultural goods, while small family owned plots still play a major role in the growth of Laiatanese agriculture.

With a large coastline, Laiatanese fishing fleets are a major contributor to the region's fish supply. The total capture of fish was at 1,191,068 tons in 2005. Both exports and imports of fish and sea products grew significantly in the recent years, reaching correspondingly $2.1 and $1.7 millions in 2008.

Energy

Popov Nuclear Power Plant near Popov, Lesa.

In recent years, Laiatan has been described in the media as a major energy producer. The country has a large number of oil, natural gas and coal reserves, much of which still remains untapped. Laiatan is a major oil, natural gas and coal exporter, exporting the excess resources removed from the ground, making it completely energy independent. On 1 January 2011, per the ITO treaty, Laiatan announced it had begun shipment of 250,000 barrels of oil a day to Vulshain, with plans to increase that number to 500,000 barrels a day.

Laiatan produces a large amount of electricity, thanks to the large amount of fossil fuels for fueling power plants, as well as a large network of hydroelectric power that powers roughly 30% of the country.

Laiatan's first nuclear power plant was built in 1999. It is one of twenty power plants currently operating in Laiatan. Most of these plants are in the western part of the country. All nuclear power in Laiatan is commercially operated, though it is monitored by the Ministry of Energy. The sector is rapidly developing, with an aim of increasing the total share of nuclear energy from current 13.9% to 25% by 2025. The Laiatanese government plans to allocate Ժ6.1 billion ($5.1 billion) to a federal program dedicated to the next generation of nuclear energy technology. About Ժ50 billion ($48.3 billion) is to be allocated from the federal budget to nuclear power and industry development by 2016.

Transport

The total length of common-used railway tracks exceeds 35,000 miles (56,327 km). The entirety of this railroad is electrified, and additionally there are more than 18,641 miles (30,000 km) of industrial non-common carrier lines. Like most of the world, Laiatan uses the standard gauge for their railroads. The most renown railway in Laiatan is the Trans-Laiatan Railway, which connects the southern port city of Sande to the northern port city of Mys, the furthest points in Laiatan. As of 2011 Laiatan had 226,800 miles (365,000 km) of roads, of which 200,000 were paved. Some of these make up the Laiatanese intranational highway system. Much of Laiatan's inland waterways, which total 58,030 miles (93,390 km), are made up of natural rivers or lakes.

Major sea ports of Laiatan include Izmurod, Sande, Mys, Rantza, Priluk, Yurmansk, and Kalshgorod, which are located on the Gulf of Itur and the Mahigan Sea. In 2008 the country owned 2,023 merchant marine ships.

File:Laiatan long train.jpg

Laiatanese long train in northern Kekur.

The newest addition to the Laiatanese pipeline system was completed in June of 2014, which connected the Northern and Southern Pipeline Systems. The project also introduced several new tanker terminals, refineries and storage facilities along the coastlines of the country. This has helped expedite the refinery process and allows the country to hold more reserves.

Laiatan has 500 airports, the busiest being Volkgoroda International Airport, Befrei, Vereint in Volkgoroda, Schwenistor in Kosma and Tureinokiv in Letov. The total length of runways in Laiatan exceeds 100,000 miles (160,934 km).

Typically, major Laiatanese cities have well-developed systems of public transport, with the most common varieties of exploited vehicles being bus, trolleybus and tram. Most major Laiatanese cities have underground metros. The total length of metros in Laiatan is 750 miles (1,207 km). Volkgoroda Metro and Kosma Metro are the oldest in Laiatan, opened in 1925 and 1935 respectively. These two are among the fastest and busiest metro systems in the world, and are famous for rich decorations and unique designs of their stations, which is a common tradition on Laiatanese metros and railways.

Demographics

Population

Races in Laiatan
Ethnic Group/Race			Percentage
Southern			45.1%
Northern			38.5%
Mixed			15.5%
Other			0.9%

According to the 2012 census, the total population of Laiatan is 67,035,478. The 2014 population was estimated to be 69,179,772, while the 2017 estimate is 72,347,070. The population density in 2012 was estimated to be 124.3/sq mi (48/km2).

The birthrate in 2012 was 16 per 1,000. Its population growth rate is positive at 1.2%.

Laiatan's population is mostly comprised of the lupine (99.1% of the population), which is divided into two ethnic groups (Northern and Southern lupines) recognized by the Laiatanese federal government. The non-Lupine races that inhabit Laiatan include vulpines and humans.

About 85% of Laiatanese citizens live in urban areas (including suburbs); about half of those reside in cities with populations over 50,000. In 2012, 89 incorporated places had populations over 100,000. There are three metropolitan areas with populations greater than five million. Of the 25 fastest-growing metro areas, 17 are located in the north.

Family structure

As of 2006, 52% of Laiatanese citizens were married, 5% were widowed, 10% were divorced, and 30% had never been married. Women now mostly work out of the home and earn a majority of bachelor's degrees.

The teen pregnancy rate is 17 per 1,000 women. Abortion is legal throughout the country thanks to the Abortion Legality Act of 1982, which prevented provinces from taking steps to prevent women from having abortions. The law also placed a federal ban on abortions after the 22nd week, except in cases of maternal health, rape, incest, and fetal defects. The abortion rate has been falling in recent years, the ratio being 132 abortions per 1,000 live births in 2008. In 2015, the average age at first birth was 24 and 37.8% of births were to unmarried women.

The total fertility rate (TFR) was estimated for 2013 at 2.36 births per woman. Adoption in Laiatan is common and relatively easy from a legal point of view. Same-sex marriage is legal nationwide and it is legal for same-sex couples to adopt. Polygamy is illegal throughout the country.

Language

See also: Laiatanese language

Laiatanese is the only official national language of Laiatan. In 2012, roughly 65.6 million, or 98% of the population aged five years and older, spoke only Laiatanese at home. Codexian is the second most spoken language, Unonian being the third. The learning of Laiatanese is a requirement for naturalization. Citizenship is only granted to those who have a firm grasp on the language, increasing the number of people who speak the language.

Laiatanese is the official language of every province, though several recognize minority languages - such as Unonian in Arovmoy, where nearly 65% of all vulpines in Laiatan live.

Religion

Religion in Laiatan
Religion			Percentage
Mahitou			98%
No Religion			1.2%
Other			0.8%

See also: Mahitou

The Constitution guarantees the free exercise of religion and forbids the Federation Assembly from passing any laws that goes against this protection. By far, the lupine religion of Mahitou is the most commonly practiced religion in Laiatan, with 96% of the population stating they practice the religion. Other religions are practiced in Laiatan, including Christianity, Islam, and other major world religions. There's also a small percentage of people with no religion, though these are mostly within the human populations.

Very few lupines follow Vayan Catholicism, though it is not unheard of. Some vulpines also follow the traditionally lupine Mahitou; some are accepting of this practice while others are not. These arguments stem from the fact that the lupine is explicitly mentioned in religious texts while vulpines are not, especially in texts discussing the idea of 'Paradise' or Mahiparadies.

Despite this, the head of the Mahitou religion - the Stareyshina has not denounced non-lupine practitioners of the religion, instead, encouraging their participation.

Health

The life expectancy in Laiatan is 78.6 years for males and 81.1 years for females. Laiatan has made many advancements in the healthcare industry, extending life expectancy nearly 20 years since the 1920s. The infant mortality rate is 2.9 deaths per 1,000 live births.

Laiatan has a hybrid healthcare model, insuring everyone under a national single-payer system. Nearly 90% of citizens also have private, supplemental insurance, which is either provided by their employer or purchased on the market.

Education

Over 99% of Laiatanese citizens aged 15 and above are able to read and write. Responsibility for educational supervision in Laiatan is primarily organised within the individual provinces. Primary and secondary education is required by federal law. Students often continue their education into the post-secondary level. State universities are tuition free, and are available to all citizens and documented residents. Citizens are encouraged to enroll in post-secondary classes and pursue degrees.

Culture

Main article: Volkian culture

Cuisine

File:Biscuits and sausage gravy.jpg

Pechsosika, a popular Volkian breakfast.

Volkian cuisine widely uses meats, breads, vegetables, spices and pastas. Diversity in Volkian cuisine is high, and usually varies from region to region, though provincial differences also exist. However, thanks to the country unifying and the easing of movement between provinces, many foods spreading across the country. Foods that are "heavy" are common, though "lighter" meals do exist. Flavorful soups and stews include shchi, borsch, ukha, solyanka and okroshka. Smetana (a heavy sour cream) is often added to soups and salads. Pirozhki, blini and syrniki are native types of pancakes. Steaks and chicken breasts are popular centerpieces for meat dishes.

Volkian people drink a variety of drinks, ranging from water to coffee. Sweet tea, known as sladkiy chay, is an incredibly popular drink. It's ranked as a favorite drink of the populace, followed by water, coffee, and soda. The country also produces a variety of alcohol including vodka and beer, the top two favorite alcoholic drinks.

Visual arts

Art has been an important part in Volkia's history, helping record important events through history. Early art depicted grand battles, leaders of Volkia's first states, religion and other important people. This continued into Volkia's history as it transformed into a fruitful kingdom and empire, glorifying its leaders and advancements. Volkian art grew dark in the years following the establishment of the junta. Enlightenment art rose with the foundation of the Federation, putting power into the hands of the people.

Post-federalization art saw bright colors and hope return to Volkian art. Scenes of battle were painted as well, showing the new army fighting for the people. This trend as continued into the 21st century, only bringing dark themes into it during times of trouble in the country.

Modern art today is bright and uplifting, and depicts anything from people and important figures to abstract art.

Music

Volkian music traditionally was made with stringed instruments, drums, and horns. Various instruments were brought in as the nation began to westernize, shaping the musical style of Volkia today.

Rock music has taken off in the country, with subjects from emotions to historically important events. Classical remains popular as well thanks to Alexander Yurov, a man many musicians consider to be one of the best composers of the century.

Laws passed in the early 1990s have restricted the censorship of music, as well as other art forms and television.

Media

Media has always been controlled by the people with little restriction. These freedoms are held near and dear to the hearts of the people, and almost all broadcasting companies belong to private citizens. Government does own some broadcasting services, but these are typically only for education or information purposes. Freedom of the press is guaranteed by the Volkian constitution, ensuring the people will hear from the people on matters, not the government.

Laws passed in the early 1980s have greatly restricted the censorship of media. However, the government has an ability to publish what is known as a NB-Notice, which is an official request to news editors not to publish or broadcast items on specified subjects for reasons of national security.

Sports

See also: Volkian Olympic Committee

One of the most popular sports in Volkia is ice hockey. Most high schools and colleges have their own hockey teams, and the Volkia Hockey League represents the professional level of hockey in the country. High school, college and professional levels are followed closely by the populace. Besides hockey, baseball, soccer, basketball and football are also closely followed by the population. These sports also have large followings from the population, having high school, college, and professional teams.

Each of these sports have a professional league established, and includes the Volkian Hockey League, Federation Soccer League, Federation Football League, Federation Baseball League, and the Federation Basketball Association.

With the large amount of teams scattered across the country, there's plenty of healthy rivalries between provinces and cities.

Volkia has also made its first Olympic Games appearance in the Tenth Winter Olympics. It finished seventh overall, winning six gold medals, one silver medal, and two bronze medals. Skater Alya Gagolin set a new Olympic record for the Women's 1500m short track event. The nation's flag bearer, Alexi Zaytsev, also won a gold medal in his event.

National holidays

All of the fourteen federal holidays are also provincial holidays. A holiday that falls on a weekend is usually observed on the closest weekday. The official names came from the laws that define holidays for federal employees. While officially a secular nation, the federal government continues to observe religious holidays.

Date	Official Name (Volkian)	Notes
January 1st	New Year's Day (День нового года)	Celebrates the beginning of the Gregorian calendar year. Festivities typically begin the previous evening.
Third Monday of January	Unification Day (День объединения)	Celebrates the formation of what is considered the beginning of Volkia's history of a nation, Lai.
First Friday of March	Republic Day (Pеспублика день)	Celebrates the revolutions that gave Volkia a republic.
Last Monday of March	Labor Day (День труда)	Celebrates achievements of workers and the labor movement.
April 17th	Federation Day (День Федерации)	Celebrates the adoption of the Constitution of Volkia and the creation of the Federation.
Last Friday of April	Zukov's Birthday (День рождения Жуков)	Honors Aleksey Zukov, the first president of the Federation.
First Friday of May	President's Day (День президентов)	Honors the presidents of Volkia.
Third Monday of May	Spring Festival (Весенний фестиваль)	Religious and federal holiday.
Third Monday of June	Defenders of the Federation Day (День защитника Федерации)	Honors all members of the Volkian Defense Forces, especially surviving veterans of wars.
Last Friday in September	Festival of the Sky (Фестиваль неба)	Celebrates the supreme deity in Mahitou, Zhana. Religious and federal holiday.
Last Wednesday in October (Biennial)	Election Day (День выборов)	Public holiday held every other year for purposes of federal elections. The next federal elections are to be held October 31, 2018.
Third Friday of November	Autumn Festival (Осенний фестиваль)	Celebrates the autumn harvest in Volkia, has its roots in old Mahitou festivals.
December 29th	Eve of the Winter Festival (Фестиваль Зимы Ева)	Celebrates the eve of the Winter Festival, an important part of Mahitou. Religious and federal holiday.
December 30th	Winter Festival (Зимний фестиваль)	Celebrates the Winter Festival, an important part of Mahitou. Religious and federal holiday.