Lestykhol

Lestykhol, officially known as the Republic of Lestykhol (Yarovan: Лестихол) is an Ecclesiastical Representative Republic in North-East Artemia. The country is bordered to the south by Yarova, and to the west by Aukalnia and Sartland. Lestykhol has a population of over 14.1 million people, with the largest city being Brezhnegrad with a population of 2.3 million. The capital city is Kholdnareka with a population of over 900,000. The republic was formed after the Kholak War of Independence against Yarova during the Grand Campaigns in 1919-1920. The country is geographically divided by its two dominant landscapes: A massive tundra to the north, and a hilly taiga in the south. The nation is known for its traditionalist cultures and history of militarism with a large active standing military.

History (Needs additions)
Antiquity (Needs additions)

The Kholaks were prized archers and horseback riders centuries ago, serving in armies all across the land.

(Name) Confederation

At some point, several nomadic Kholak tribes ratified a constitution to combine the East Slavic-speaking Kholak tribes into a confederation. This constitution laid out a democratic system with separation of powers between three government branches. It placed limits on the Ataman's authority, and established a democratically-elected parliament called the General Council.

Yarova

At some point, the Kholaks became a client of Yarova, and were treated like their own warrior-class.

Early Separatist Movements (Needs additions and details)

In the 19th century, the Vojiskiy Empire's attitude towards the Kholaks changed drastically. Their traditions were considered barbaric compared to the rapidly modernizing world, their cavalry tactics outdated. Kholaks soon took notice as their status of warriors was being stripped away. Not wanting to lose their identity, history and culture, nationalist sentiments took hold by the time of the Great Campaigns. A Kholak named Rovsninskiy Volkachev rallied the people to form their own nation-state in the wake of the Vojiskiy Empire’s entry into the Campaigns with the hope that they would be too occupied to send troops against them.

Grand Campaigns and Independence

By 1919, the Kholaks had written their own constitution and submitted a formal declaration of independence. The Vojiskiy Empire responded by immediately declaring war on Lestykhol. Vojiskiy’s armies confidently marched into the taigas, expecting to face little effective resistance. They were stunned when the Kholaks unleashed a brutal guerilla campaign, hiding in the forests and wreaking havoc on the Yarovan supply lines with cavalry counterattacks. In only several months, the Vojiskiy Empire had suffered tremendous casualties, losing many troops that could have better been used on other fronts. Once winter came, the severely weakened and demoralized Yarovans began freezing to death in droves. Meanwhile, thousands of others were captured as prisoners of war. The disastrous campaign uprooted the Empire's confidence, resulting in the complete withdrawal of Vojiskiy forces. After achieving peace, a transitional government was established, with Volkachev being chosen as Ataman and Vasily Katyushin, fellow republican revolutionary and orator, as Hetman.

Four years later, the flames of war were stoked again. The Grand Campaigns had taken their toll on the Vojiskiy Empire. Rising civil unrest led to the Vojiskiy War, a civil conflict that resulted in the fragmentation and dissolution of the Empire. Volkachev and his council were initially hesitant to support the newly-formed Republican Front. The promise of new territory convinced the Kholak leaders, and they immediately prepared for war. Thousands of men eagerly volunteered to take part in the conflict. Many acted as military advisors or cavalry in auxiliary units. These units would go on to participate in many important battles, and took part in the raid on the Imperial Palace. The war cost thousands of lives, and left many more permanently injured physically as well as To make matters worse, the Yarovar leadership in the Republican Front went back on their promise to cede land to Lestykhol. This would leave an increasingly negative impact on Kholak-Yarovar relations. Although the diplomatic ties between Lestykhol and the new Yarovan republic would unravel, other foreign relations would blossom. Volkachev himself had a special appreciation for the Rovsnoski, whom he described as "Brothers in Arms against the Yarovars."

Inter-war and Kesh War

(Inter-war details will come soon). (Currently unknown whether Lestykhol participated in the Kesh War).

Post-Kesh

(Needs Additions)

Contemporary History

(Needs Additions)

Demographics
Ethnic groups

Lestykhol is home to the Kholaks, who make up 89% of the population. Yarovans make up 7% of the population while Rovsnoskis make up 2%.

Language

Yarovan is the officially recognized language of Lestykhol, while Rovsnoski is a recognized minority language.

Religion

The Svogda Patriarchate is the official religion of the state. 94.13% of the population worships this religion.

Health

(Needs Additions)

Economics
Industry

Farming is difficult due to the low temperatures and dense taigas, but a large amount of root vegetables and rye are produced. There are also dedicated farms for harvesting cattle and venison. In the north, commercial fishing makes up a large portion of industries, and provides one of the leading exports. In major cities, chemical factories contribute another significant portion of economic output. The dense taigas provide for the lumber industry.

Exports

Lestykhol's primary exports are lumber products, processed fish and chemicals. Textiles are also produced in the country, and are known for their high quality and intricate detail.

Imports

Lestykhol's primary imports include industrial machinery, transportation/vehicles, petroleum and military equipment.

Politics
Government (Continue changing)

Lestykhol is an Ecclesiastical Semi-Federal Representative Republic. The main authoritative figure is a democratically elected “Ataman,” who is the Chief of State. The head of government is a Prime Minister, known officially as the "Hetman." The Hetman has the power to appoint Chairs of Departments, at the Ataman's discretion. The Hetman, Duma speakers, and Holy Justices of the National Court of the Patriarchate (the highest federal court) are chosen by the unicameral legislature, the Duma. Representatives of the Duma are elected through popular vote of their administrative districts. The number of Representatives per district is proportional to population. There are 140 seats in the Duma, meaning each member represents approximately 100,000 people. The Duma can over-rule the Ataman's or Hetman's executive decisions via a two-thirds majority. National and Foreign Affairs are handled by a series of Federally-administered departments. The Ataman also serves as Commander-in-Chief of the Lestykhol National Defense Forces, and can also appoint the Patriarch (the Supreme Justice) at the Hetman's discretion. The terms for an Ataman and Hetman are 5 years, and they may serve two terms. Duma Representatives also have a 5-year term length, with the exception that there is no term limit. Due to being a parliamentary system, there are several major political parties. The largest political party is The Kholak Republican Party which currently has a coalition government with the Kholak Front. The KRP's biggest rival is the Progressive Party, which is the Duma Opposition leader. Other members of the Opposition include the Greens and the Social Democratic Party. Although Lestykhol holds free elections, parties that promote extremist/fringe ideologies such as Communism and Fascism are illegal. The first elections were held in 1925, with Rovsninskiy Volkachev and Vasily Katyushin were elected Ataman and Hetman respectively. Federal Departments
 * Department of Security (police, military, and secret service)
 * Department of Agriculture (farming, fishing and hunting)
 * Department of Commerce (trade, market regulation)
 * Department of Education (schools and post-secondary institutions)
 * Department of Health (healthcare, general wellbeing of citizens)
 * Department of Church (deals with religious affairs)
 * Department of Culture (tourism and entertainment/culture/stuff)
 * Department of Resources (mining, lumber, oil, etc.)
 * Department of Labor (worker’s affairs)
 * Department of Foreign Affairs (foreign policy, diplomacy)

Administrative Districts

Lestykhol is split at a semi-federal level by its 12 Administrative districts (names are subject to change): Don, Ural, Terek, Kuban, Orenburg, Astrakhan, Siberia, Transbaikal, Amur, Semiryechensk, Ussuri and the Free City of Kholdnareka. Each one is based on and named after an ancient Kholak tribe (with the exception of Kholdnareka), and each have their own slight variations on Kholak customs and traditions.

Foreign Relations

For decades, Lestykhol was primarily isolationist. However, a decline in economic and industrial strength necessitated a shift in policy. Concerns over a conflict with Yarova also legitimized the need for military security. In 2001 under former Ataman Yulian Antonovich, Lestykhol became a founding member of the Allied Eastern States, a military and economic alliance of Eastern Artemian nations.

Lestykhol's closest ally is Rovsnoska. Although the nation of Rovsnoska is fairly new, the relationship between Kholaks and Rovsnoskis goes back nearly a century. Both people found a mutual enemy in the Vojisky Empire, and fought as brothers in arms against them. This relationship continued for years after, with Rovsnoska being one of the few countries that the Kholaks had strong diplomatic relations with.

Military (Overhaul)
The Lestykhol National Defense Forces are the armed forces for Lestykhol. They primarily serve as a defensive force against foreign aggressors, although the Expeditionary Force can be deployed to foreign territories.

Doctrine

Kholak doctrine is defensive in nature. Defensive networks are comprised of a series of small, easily-defensible hardpoints (usually located in or near towns) aided by infantry scouts on skis or lightweight, fast moving vehicles. The job of these hardpoints is to distract the main invasion force while heavier infantry and vehicles counterattack from their flanks.The doctrine of the Air Force is focused on surveillance and supporting the infantry.

Organization

The Lestykhol National Defense Forces are split into five separate branches; The Ground Forces, Maritime Forces, Air Forces, Special Forces and Expeditionary Forces. The LNDF falls under the jurisdiction of the Department of Security. The Ataman is the Commander-in-Chief of the Defense Forces.

Equipment
 * Ground Force: The land combat branch, the Ground Force is comprised of the infantry (including armored units), field artillery and ground vehicles. The Ground Force hosts signal, engineer, chaplain and medical corps among many others. It is the largest of the four branches.
 * Maritime Force: The naval combat branch, the Maritime Force is comprised of watercraft such as frigates, destroyers, submarines, minesweepers, corvettes, patrol boats and combat boats. The Maritime Force also hosts naval Search-and-rescue units and coastal/naval artillery. The fleet's limited range restricts it to a defensive Green-water navy.
 * Air Force: The air combat branch, the Air Force is comprised of all air vehicles including helicopters, jet fighters, interceptors, ground-attack aircraft, reconnaissance aircraft and transport planes. The Air Force also hosts the paratrooper corps, Search-and-rescue units and Anti-Aircraft units.
 * Special Forces: The Special Forces of Lestykhol contain the most elite units of the LNDF. They are the smallest branch, but have the most up-to-date equipment and are the best-trained.
 * Expeditionary Force: The Lestykhol Expeditionary Force is a combined-arms branch that is intended to serve abroad.

In ancient times, Kholaks were trained to shoot bows from horseback. Soldiers are still trained with bows and arrows today out of respect for traditions, and in case weapons or ammunition become scarce. Most of the military equipment of the LNDF is imported from foreign countries. The largest source of imported weaponry is Rovsnoska. The standard-issue rifle is the (Rifle name). The Armored Corps is equipped with heavily-modified Chieftain and Centurion tanks. Motorized and Mechanized corps are equipped with BTR and (Other) armored vehicles. The Air Force's arsenal includes (Model) helicopters, (Model) Ground Attack craft and (Model) Interceptors.

Service

At the age of 18, all males are conscripted into the military while women may volunteer. After 1 year of training and 3 years of service, LNDF members are placed into a reserve program where they can be called upon to serve. Once they reach the age of 50, they may retire. Officers can serve their entire lives, and be promoted.

Culture (Could use more details)
Kholaks, as a culture, are unified in their traditional values and faith. They value family, community and country. Because their country is a taiga with coastal tundras, the population is organized into small communities dotting the landscape with a few industrial cities. Many Kholak children grow up in rural communities learning basic trades like farming, fishing, hunting, smithing and carpentry among others. Kholaks are renowned for their skills in archery, horseback riding, craftsmanship and culinary arts.

Cuisine

Moose and Cow’s milk is used in the production of cheese. Rye is also grown, and is a staple of the Kholak diet. In the more northern parts of the country, fish are often eaten, although the process can be difficult for parts of the year due to the freezing temperatures. Most of the Kholak diet comprises of salted/smoked meats. Venison, moose, and beef from wild cattle are the most common. The national dish of Lestykhol is “Schedrost,” a venison stew similar to Goulash. It symbolizes the bountiful meats and vegetables (etymologically, its name is the Yarovan word for “bounty”) of the region, along with the fact that it is often served to large groups of people, usually on special events which symbolises the sense of community. Other popular dishes include Okroshka, Borscht, Pelmeni and Buterbrod. On Svagda fast days, when meat is forbidden, traditional meals consist of fish. Popular beverages include pine tea, mors, vodka and kvass.

Sports

The cold and unforgiving terrain makes Kholaks physically strong and very athletic. Hunting, Cross-country Skiing, sledding and ice hockey are popular sports.

Music

The Kholaks are known for their traditional folk music, and their traditional dance style known as In more recent years, the genre of  gained a cult following in Lestykhol after being created in Rovsnoska during the 1990s. The upbeat tempos and themes of militarism and patriotism gained great popularity with Kholak youth. Some artists have begun creating their own sub-genres that include promoting religious values, and folk legends.

Literature

Much like their music, Kholaks are renowned for their folklore and fiction-based literature.

Fine Arts

The beautiful forest and frigid shores of Lestykhol draw artists from all across Anterra for inspiration. Some of the best-known artworks based on landscapes are of Lestykhol.

Education

Education is handled by the Federal Department of Education. Kholak children begin education at the age of five with Kindergarten, and are then placed in Primary School from ages six to twelve. They are then sent to High School from ages twelve to eighteen. After graduation, students will immediately begin their mandatory service. After their four years of service are complete, they may attend higher education and earn degrees from any of the several universities. Students wishing to become officers may enroll in the state-owned Kholdnareka Military Academy.