Russian Revolution
The Czar has been forced to abdicate in favor of his son, Alexei.
This is the end result of several years of increasing ministerial rule, with a new civilian-military coalition forming behind Prime Minister Grigor Stoyanovich. A new Constitution has vested power with the Czars government, replacing countless decades of absolutist rule. Russia is far from a liberal democracy, however, with reports of thousands of imprisonments within hours of the Czars abdication. The Stoyanovich government has declared a nationwide state of emergency as the country is reorganized. The new Constitution provides for democracy, but specifically grants the government the ability to vet candidates so as to avoid radical elements. Nonetheless, suffrage has been granted to every person 25 and older unless they are guilty of treason.
The most radical reform has been the federalization of the countrys affairs. After years of central mismanagement, Stoyanovich has overseen the devolution of many affairs to local entities so as to improve efficiency. Power is now vested in the provinces, who each send representatives to Moscow. Stoyanovich apologized to the Polish people for the prior regimes transgressions and has announced plans to release a Polish state under Russian protection; he has also offered generous compensation to those who decide to remain in the country. Reports are persecutions have ceased, and while Russian is still required in schools as a matter of principle, local governments are free to set additional language requirements.
Stoyanovich revealed that the coup was a response to a plan by the Czarist regime to begin a mass crackdown on Catholicism in response to increasing Papal pressure, which would have involved repossession of Churches for Orthodox purposes, the jailing or forced conversion of priests, and increasing chipping away at the rights of Catholics in the Empire. Between gradual emancipation of the Poles under Russian sovereignty and the cessation of persecutions, the new regime is hoping relations can be somewhat restored with the rest of non-British Europe.
In his inauguration, Mr. Stoyanovich concluded with,
The time has come for change. The time has come for the Federation of European and Asian Republics to stand strong.
