Rasvidi State News

Rasvidi State News
Selected Headlines
August 23rd, 2010
Editor in Chief, Öda Fortunatov

MORE ON PAGE A2

-----

MORE ON PAGE D7

-----

MORE ON PAGE A3

Rasvidi State News
Selected Headlines
September 4th, 2010
Editor in Chief, Öda Fortunatov

More trade talks this week as Rasvidi has opened up it's Arms Manufacturing and Gambling industries to foreign investment. Currently, the military is offering various small arms for discount prices, such as the DL-293 "Pralnikov" automatic rifle and the DB-K01 "Leniyo" sub-machine gun, both ubiquitous across the Rasvidi armed forces. At current prices, a unit of 25,000 soldiers can be outfitted for just under $20 million. Further options will be offered once initial investments have been made.

Additionally, shares in state-run gambling divisions have been offered. Foreign shareholders will hold the same rights as domestic shareholders, and investing nations will recieve a portion of income in ratio to the percentage of held shares. Investment in other gambling industries, such as playing card manufacturers and advertising, will become available in the near future.

MORE ON PAGE A1

-----

Announcements have been made by officials in the Tiberiam Empire of Isis Rakael, granting political rights to citizens after an alleged 472 years of an absolutist government. The empire will reportedly be split into multiple states over the course of 48 months. The name of the empire has also been officially changed to The Democratic States of Isis Rakael.

While applauding the efforts of the government to bring democracy to their people, Foreign Commissar Yelena Stasova has harshly criticized Isis Rakael for allowing such a lengthy dictatorship to exist. "While I agree with their current motives, I cannot be hopeful that such actions will result in real, transparent elections in a nation with such a lengthy history of oppression. I urge the people of Isis Rakael to take action against this regime if they do not live up to their promise of a democratic process. All people everywhere deserve unbridled personal freedoms, without interference from government. The leadership of Isis Rakael has clearly failed their citizens in this respect." Stasova has said at a public speech in Ulyanovsk.

It should be noted that while free and fair elections exist in Rasvidi, the only political party, the People's Socialist Party of Rasvidi, is the only legal and legitimate contender in elections.

MORE ON PAGE A3

-----

National mourning is taking place after the recent death of Antonius Septim, president of the People's Republic of East Germanias. It is unclear as to the cause of death, although apparently a federal investigation underway into the matter. Chairman Pralnikov has extended his condoolences to the nation in mourning, and has offered to provide forensics experts and criminal investigators to East Germanias to assist in the investigation.

Today has also been marked as a national day of rememberance in Rasvidi in honour of the late presidential leader.

MORE ON PAGE C7

-----

The manhunt for Adrijana Nevskaja has ended in disaster today as both she and her son Vukasin, whom she had abducted from his father Rep. Danijel Nevskaja, were found dead near the Gracealonian border. Their bodies were recovered and identified after a camper happened across them in the woods west of Khabarovsk. Weeks before the abduction took place, Adrijana had been making obscene religious references and statements relating to her son. It is thought she murdered her son and then committed suicide, under the influence of a belief in a fictional "life after death".

Danijel Nevskaja has since expressed his immense sorrow, and has announced his intention to step down from his seat as Representative in the Union Council, citing emotional and personal problems resulting from the tragedy.

The government has used this incident to reiterate it's zero tolerance policy on religion and religious utterances, and has vowed to enforce all legislation on religious restriction. It should be noted that those found guilty of subscribing to a religious or cult-like organization are usually executed, and those found guilt of religious utterance without subscribing to such an organization are ordinarly sentenced to 10 to 15 years imprisonment.

MORE ON PAGE B1

Rasvidi State News
Selected Headlines
September 17th, 2010
Editor in Chief, Öda Fortunatov

Chairman Pralnikov made headlines this week with the announcement that he was initiating a space program for Rasvidi with the lofty goal of being the first nation to land human beings on the moon. He stated his intentions to achieve these goals within two years, emphasizing Rasvidi's already advanced rocketry technology employed in ballistics missiles as being more then sufficient for adaptation to space. He announced that basic testing on prototypes had been completed successfully, and stated his plans to launch Rasvidi's first satellites over the coming weeks and months. Pralnikov has also announced plans to establish a strong military presence in orbit.

Critics have pointed out the massive costs that such a program will incur, and that the taxpayers will therefore have to support. Government officials have responded to this criticism, saying that any patriotic citizen should be proud to lend financial support to such a prestigious national endeavour. The government has also responded to concerns raised over the militarization of space, saying that such actions will act as a deterrence against invasions and aggression.

MORE ON PAGE A1

-----

Commissar Arseni Zverev of the Commissariat of Technology today announced the initiation of a program designed to develop useful fusion energy technologies for use in future fusion power plants. The plants would use deuterium and tritium imported from Gracealona as fuel sources, using D-D and D-T reactions to drive the fusion process. In the interim, several nuclear power plants will be constructed and fueled using heavy water derived from the deuterium, and will use the very limited supplies of fissile uranium in Rasvidi.

More notably, Defence Commissar Alexei Rykov has also stated his intent to develop the deuterium and tritium into thermonuclear weapons, which will enter Rasvidi as a serious competitor in the nuclear arms race. These weapons have been labeled 'Hydrogen Bombs' or 'H-Bombs' by the media.

MORE ON PAGE A1

-----

Protests have broken out in several major cities as citizens become increasingly aware of the religious freedoms in neighbouring countries. Some have demanded the return of religion in politics, while others have advocated a more secular stance. Despite the reasons, however, the groups organizing the protests have been labeled enemies of the state and a campaign is underway to imprison and execute the leaders of these groups.

In the meantime, some protests have been broken up using military force, with fatalities reported in at least one protest in Saratov. A pro-religion protest came across an anti-religion protest, which broke out in violence and eventually led to looting and rioting. The military was called in and over 100 people were killed and a further 2,500 imprisoned. Federal imprisonment of protesters, who are seen as violating Rasvidi's anti-religion legislation, has been reported to be as high as 150,000 people since the protests began a week ago. About 13% of those imprisoned have been sentenced to execution.

MORE ON PAGE A3

Rasvidi State News
Selected Headlines
October 20th, 2010
Editor in Chief, Kaapo Mikkola

Emergency Broadcasts End
Novosibirsk Remains in State of Emergency

Today marks the return of regular news broadcasts and publications in most regions of Rasvidi. West Mordivia continues to be on high alert and in a state of conflict with foreign intruders, and Vaeringjar is also on alert over the potential for invasions against southern aggressors. Novosibirsk is currently under siege from forces of NX401 without indication that their forces will withdraw, despite attending peace conferences in Gracemaria. As a result, troops stationed in north-western Volkhov are prepared for mobilization should peace talks fall through. Vaeringjar has seen some failed invasion attempts, using it's mountainous and rough terrain to it's advantage to thwart the forces of Queen Jeny.

Millions are dead across Rasvidi, including the late Öda Fortunatov, who perished in the nuclear strike on Kazan. Öda Fortunatov was the Editor-in-Chief of the Rasvidi State News for 21 years and was a recognizable name and face for generations of Rasvidi citizens. She will be missed, not only by our staff who knew her well but by everyone who calls themselves Rasvidi.

MORE ON PAGE A2

-----

Peace Summit in Gracemaria
Regional Powers Expected to Attend

Peace talks are currently being held in the Gracealonan city of Gracemaria. The decision for Acting Chairman Vladimir Ovseyenko to personally attend these talks has been met with resistance, with many saying that it is inappropriate for the Chairman to attend events in the capital of Gracemaria, a country which is seen as having backed out of it's obligations which resulted is severe consequences for Rasvidi. Riots in Ulyanovsk broke out, with many protestors burning effigies of Gracealonan President Andy Carlton along with the Gracealonan flag. Images of President Andy Carlton were also modified to resemble Tsuritsa II Krasinski, a notorious Rasvidi dictator commonly known as the "Baroness of Hell".

Further controversy arose over a video of Chairman Ovseyenko assaulting Rakaelian general Jiri Iroh shortly after arriving to the conference. The video was leaked to the media after it was uploaded to a popular video site and then distributed through torrent sites after the video was removed. The video had 1.1 million hits before it was taken down. Public approval of the attack appears to be critical but supportive; many feel the actions adequately portrayed the feelings of Rasvidi citizens towards the nation of Isis Rakael.

MORE ON PAGE A1

-----

First Political Parties Begin to Coalesce
Several Candidates Announced for Expected Post-War Elections

With the death of our glorious leader Venedikt Pralnikov, one of the mightiest and most powerful and possibly the most influential ruler in Rasvidi history, political parties have been legalized as per the Constitution and elections are expected to be held upon the conclusion of the North Sea Conflict, also known in Rasvidi as the Petty War, Great War, War of Rakaelian Aggression and War of Gracealonian Cowardice.

The parties and their candidates are as follows;

The People's Party
Vladimir A. Ovseyenko

The Libertarian Party
Ragnar Hylgaard

The Nationalist Party
Annaliisa Haapakoski

The Pralnikov Party
Gülbahar Küçük

The Progressive Party
Väinö Nakashidze

MORE ON PAGE B7

-----

Do not fund foreign aggression and invasion, stop buying poor quality foreign goods! Buy Rasvidi, and help us to build a nation to last a thousand years!

Расвиди Валтио Уутисет
Rasvidi State News
Selected Headlines
May 12th, 1498
Editor-in-Chief, Kaapo Mikkola

Террористит такана Фредрикстад верилёылы
Terrorists behind Fredrikstad Massacre
Government claims no responsibility in deaths

The government is blaming the terrorist group Sons of Hárbardhr for the deaths of two protestors and one soldier last week. Protestors Vendel Björnson, 19 and Halldora Garborg, 17 and Soldier Villem Lepik, 27 were killed during an armed standoff between Fjellsted nationalists protesting religious legislation and the Rasvidi military during a demonstration in Fredrikstad. The incident, in which 27 people were wounded, has drawn criticism from throughout the nation and is being called the Fredrikstad Massacre by commentators. Over forty people were arrested in connection with the incident, and only a handful have since been released. Most of those detained are expected to be convicted of various conspiracy charges, which carry the penalty of forced labour.

Officials have stated that Paulina Dityatev helped organize or supply the protest and that members of the Sons of Hárbardhr acted as provocateurs to instigate the massacre. She is believed to be operating somewhere in Fjellsted, in the Phanagorian mountains, because of the strong support her organization has in that region. Because of it's strong association with their republic, Norske people tend to be sympathetic or supportive of Hyvänism and have called for greater legislative powers to the Republics so that it may be legalized within Fjellsted. This has placed the government of Fjellsted in an awkward position, and it's response to the issue has been vague and distanced. Nonetheless, nationalist and independence movements in Fjellsted have seen significant cooperation and support from the Sons of Hárbardhr.

Chairman Väinö Nakashidze threatened to reverse his pro-religion legislation after learning of the massacre, saying that if incidents like this continue to take place it will make the legislation seem like a mistake. This has drawn both support and criticism from opposition parties, with Nationalist Party Leader Annaliisa Haapakoski supporting the repeal and Libertarian Party Leader Ragnar Hylgaard opposing it. This has created a controversy, with many claiming nationalist ties for Väinö Nakashidze (who is of Magyar ethnicity) and Ragnar Hylgaard (who is of Norske ethnicity).

continued on A1

-----

Колме Yутта Cателлииттиен Кэыттёён
Three New Satellites Launched
Expected to increase research, espionage and communication capabilities

Three new satellites have been launched aboard a Rasvidi "Avaruusalus" Spacecraft designed to bring cargo to Tiberiam orbit. The new satellites, composed of a research satellite designed to study the atmosphere and climate of Tiberiam, a telecommunications satellite owned by Viestintä Rasvidi, Inc. and an experimental military satellite designed for de-orbiting enemy satellites, are expected to give Rasvidi a greater edge in space. Ever since the breakdown of the space development agreement between Rasvidi and Gracealona, the government has been trying to outdo their allies in the space race. Designs for a space station to rival that currently operated by Gracealona are in the works, with the short-term goal of landing men on the Moon by the middle of next year or possibly by early 1500.

Nationalist Party members have spoken out in support of the space program, calling it a national marvel and pushing for more funding. They have also called for more militarization of space, such as a possible weapons platform aboard the future space station. The government has spoken out against such measures, stating it's preference for lighter weaponry to avoid provoking a war in orbit.

continued on C3

-----

Едесу Кансалаистен Киеллетты
Edesu Citizens Banned
Called "agents of destruction" by Chairman

Along with banning most goods and services from Great Western Alliance nations and raising oil and petroleum tariffs from these countries, the government has announced it's intent to bar citizens of Edo Edi Essum from entering Rasvidi. In a speech earlier this week, Chairman Väinö Nakashidze compared the government of Edo Edi Essum to that of the Commonwealth and urged citizens to not make the same mistakes. He said that as long as the people of Edo Edi Essum allow themselves to be controlled by tyrants, they are not welcome in Rasvidi. He emphasized that they do have a choice, and ultimately it is the people who decide how society is run, and that tyranny cannot silence a unified voice.

Edesu citizens caught entering Rasvidi or already within it's borders will be detained and dealt with by the Rasvid judicial system. This could result in being sentenced to forced labour, prison terms, deportation, or execution. As the government doesn't recognize the legitimacy of Edesu leadership or governance, they do not recognize it's citizenship or passports. Under Rasvidi law, anyone within it's borders that does not hold a recognized citizenship is considered to be under the domain of Rasvidi courts. Citizens of other GWA nations are also restricted, but not banned. They require extensive proof of identity and citizenship and are only allowed in certain parts of Rasvidi. If caught violating these regulations, they are simply expelled from Rasvidi.

The Chairman did not say if the ban would ever be lifted, but it is assumed that it will remain until a significant change in Edo Edi Essum's government takes place.

continued on B2

-----

¡Расвиди он сиеллэ синуа вартен! ¡Туе ёукот остамалла котимаиста!
Rasvidi is there for you! Support our troops by buying domestic!

Расвиди Валтио Уутисет
Rasvidi State News
Selected Headlines
June 14th, 1498
Editor-in-Chief, Kaapo Mikkola

Пухеенёхтая тапаа Осцалантине
Chairman Meets With Oscalantine
Night of indulgence planned for capitalist leader

Chairman Väinö Nakashidze and Vice Chairman Yelena Stasova will be in attendance this week at the Ulyanovsk Summit, where our leader will be meeting dignitaries from Oscalantine. The purpose of the meeting has not been publicly disclosed by the government, however it is widely believed that poor relations with the capitalist country are a factor. While Rasvidi once enjoyed strong support amongst both the government and population of Oscalantine, that support has plummeted in recent months after a series of events during the Hijjma War put the Elite Union and particularly Rasvidi in a negative light. The effects have been most noticeable in the general public of Oscalantine, with only 5% of those polled expressing support for Rasvidi and it's policies. Nonetheless, Oscalantine continues to be an important regional ally of Rasvidi and this summit is expected to smooth over some of the political fallout.

Many have decried the opulence of the summit as being un-Rasvidian, however. A protest has been organized to take place in front of the Kapiteeli during the talks, while several Councillors have openly criticized the Chairman. The Nationalist Party has once again been vocal in it's criticism of the government, accusing the Chairman of selling out to foreign interests. The official opposition, composed of the People's Party, has also criticized the move. Most complaints have been leveled at the extravagance of the banquet, existing amidst a culture of frugality, self-control and modesty. Members of the Progressive Party have come to the Chairman's defence, stating that the intent of the banquet was not for a display of Rasvidi, but to cater to the cultural norms of a capitalist society. Excess and waste are typical of such cultures, they have said, and the Chairman is merely trying to make a foreign guest more comfortable. Nevertheless, approval ratings for the Chairman and the Progressive Party are expected to take a hit.

It has also been rumored that the leadership of Gracealona might also be in attendance, lending further credence to the idea that this summit is meant to smooth over relations between Oscalantine and the Elite Union. No word about the summit has leaked from the government of Gracealona, however, and the attendance of President Carlton has yet to be substantiated.

-----

Расвиди лииттеитэ «Хафеет Алаал»
Rasvidi annexes "Hafeet Alaal"
Government in negotiations with Native population

Colonization and annexation of the Hafeet Alaal archipelago, located west of North Hijjma, is underway as military personnel enter into talks with native leaders. Despite early misunderstandings that led to a fatal shootout with local villagers, these talks have so far been going well and the Chairman expects the colonial government to be fully set up by the end of this month. Some international controversy is expected over Rasvidi's stance of amnesty towards Hijjma exiles living on the islands. The government is expected to offer the exiles citizenship in exchange for full amnesty, including potential high-level positions in the colonial leadership. Public support for these measures continues to be strong, with the Hijjma exiles being portrayed as revolutionaries and victims of the GWA by the government-run media networks. The government has also purchased advertising to broadcast this message on private media networks.

In the interim, a military outpost has been established in a coastal village of Thaqab in one of the southern islands, with a port being constructed. The government of the islands is currently under the leadership of the highest ranking military official located there, which is currently Kenraali (General) Ugor Polichnai. The islands are also being administered under martial law, and infringements are processed by martial courts. Natives are currently being offered citizenship at the military outpost.

-----

Сотилааллинен харёитуксет коко кансакунта
Military drills across nation
Increases to compulsory military service length expected

Training in the military has intensified as Rasvidi makes efforts to maintain it's reputation of having formidable armed forces. Drills are being held in several cities throughout the country over the coming weeks, and naval simulations are being orchestrated almost daily. Training scenarios are being held for ICBM and other Ballistics Missile operating stations, and the Rasvidi Islands are training for various invasion scenarios. The government is also looking to develop and purchase newer weapons to better equip the military, which it is more then capable of doing with it's 550.0 Billion Reichsmark (1.0 Trillion Dollar) budget.

The sight of military aircraft has become commonplace above cities and airbases as the airforce attempts to log more hours with it's pilots. Ships are being trained for maneuverability, speed and tactics in naval battles and in accurate and destructive bombardments against coastal targets from far offshore. The Maija Force, which is composed of a controversial program that contracts newborn babies from their families to train them as soldiers from birth, is also increasing it's frequency and intensity of training regimes as well as additional "free will enhancement" to reduce susceptibility to enemy propaganda and to increase subservience and loyalty to the regime. There are an estimated one million soldiers, or roughly 1/9th of the total armed forces, in the Maija Force.

Rasvidi has a total of nearly 9 million soldiers, with about 3 million of those currently active. Military service is compulsory by age 18, with a required 7 years of service (3 in the Armed Forces and 4 in the Navy). However, the government is considering extending this to 16 years with 10 years of service (4 in the Armed Forces and 6 in the Navy). Service does not have to be served consecutively, but must be completed before the age of 30. Soldiers serving compulsory service receive free education from the government, and reserve personnel are provided non-military employment opportunities while the country is not actively at war.

-----

¡Ёс епэилет ёкаисен кансалаисен вакоилуста илман лиикеарвопоистоя, муиста рапортоида ниистэ халлитукселле! ¡Рииппуматта сиитэ, оватко не перхеенйэсен, ыстэвэ таи ракас ихминен, се он рикос олла антаматта тиетоя!
If you suspect any citizen of spying for the GWA, remember to report them to the government! Regardless of whether or not they are a family member, friend or loved one, it is a crime to withhold this information!