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Latest revision as of 18:46, 29 September 2022

DATE Europe > Donovia-West > Social: Donovia-West ←You are here

Contents

Social Overview //PAGE UNDER CONSTRUCTION//

Overview

Donovia experienced a period of rapid expansion during the 19th century, taking claim over a diverse population spanning from Eastern Europe to the Pacific, and from the Arctic to the Caucasus. Despite covering over 17 million square kilometers, Donovia’s population is overwhelmingly concentrated in the West along the European border, and Southwest in the Caucasus. Despite their  social diversity, Donovia’s government projects an identity that is decidedly European.

 Brief History

The Donovian Empire rapidly expanded during the 18th and 19th centuries, conquering regions in the Caucasus, Central Asia, and taking territory reaching all the way to the Pacific Ocean. The Donovian Empire often ruled the conquered territories with an iron fist, using military force to root out dissent and rebellion among minority populations and populations in conquered territory. Following the collapse of the Donovian Empire, and creation of the United Federation of Socialist Republics (UFSR) and its member states, Donovia experienced a period of rapid industrialization, enabling it to play a significant role during the Second World War.

The period following the Second World War is one of social turmoil and forced cultural assimilation. TheSocialist Donovian Government sought to create a singular Socialist-based identity for politics and culture. Entire populations that it deemed troublesome were forcibly deported from their cultural homelands across Europe, the Caucasus, and the Far East, and resettled in Central Asia. The Government then gave the now-unoccupied territories to ethnic groups and populations viewed as being pro-Donovian. In addition to the forced migration of hundreds of thousands of people, the Donovian Government also enacted a policy of Donovification, through which they attempted to replace existing cultures and languages with Donovian culture and the Donovian language.

Donovia enacted reforms during the latter half of the 20th century  allowing  forcibly displaced populations to return to their home territory, however, in many cases, the government  took no action to reconstitute lost territory and land, leading to large populations returning to their ancestral homes only to find that them  in the possession of others.  The Donovian Socialist government was able to maintain control of these areas by granting significant resources and aid to pro-Donovian populations. The collapse of the government in the early 1990s caused a number of small ethnic conflicts to erupt across Donovia, particularly in the Caucasus region. The new United Republics of Donovia acted quickly to quell these early resistance movements, however, in some cases conflict continue to ignite every few years. Early military tactics were heavy handed, and the Donovian Government suffered several defeats before finally pacifying the trouble areas. In the end it was not military action that pacified resistance movements, instead it was an end to policies of Donovification and the adoption of more localized policies whereby the government set about promoting pro-Donovian sentiment using localized mechanisms of control (a process typically referred using a portmanteau (the combining of two words to make a new word) using locations name and –ification or -ization (ie, Chechenization). Today the Federal Government recognizes a number of ethnic Republics that fall under the control of the Federal Government in Moscow. In many ethnic Republics this has led to Moscow giving preference to different socio-ethnic groups, while alienating others.

Demographics 

Languages

The national language of Donovia is Donovian, an Eastern Slavic, Cyrillic language.  Despite being home to well over a hundred different languages, Donovia recognizes less than 40 official languages that are associated with the various ethnic Republics.

Donovian is the primary language taught in schools throughout the Republics, although many local languages are offered as an additional subject. The primary foreign languages taught in Donovian schools are English, followed closely by German and French, although Olvanan  has become more prevalent over the last few years.

Ethnicities

Donovia is home to over 100 different ethnicities. The overwhelming majority, nearly 80%, of Donovian’s identify with the Donovian ethnicity and culture.  This is due to the practice of forced assimilation in the mid-20th Century, during which ethnic minorities (who may have been local majorities) were forced to adopt Donovian practices. There are a wide variety of sub-groups who maintain a semblance of their previous culture despite being assimilated, and identifying as culturally Donovian. Roughly 20% of the population is made up of roughly 190 different minority ethnicities that are primarily located in their indigenous territories. The largest minority ethnic groups are the Tatars (Turkic peoples), ethnic Ukrainians near the borders of Pirtuni, Baskirs, Chuvash, and Chechens. During the 20th Century, the Socialist government enacted a number of large scale forced migrations of specific populations from their traditional homelands.  Many of these groups are still impacted by the policies of forced migration from the Socialist era, and can be found in significant numbers across Siberia. Occasionally there are groups that seek to return to their traditional homelands, only to find their property in the possession of other, often rival social groups. This is particularly common in the Caucasus region, and can lead to local conflict.

Donovia classifies indigenous groups with populations of fewer than 50,000 as  “small-numbered indigenous peoples.” While these groups are found throughout Donovia, they are primarily found in the  Arctic region in the far north, Siberia, and in the far east. Donovia officially recognizes 40 of these groups, however there are numerous other groups that are not recognized.

//Insert Ethnic Table//

//Insert Ethnic Map//

Religions

There are a number of religions practiced in Donovia today.  While practicing religion was discouraged, and in some cases even illegal during the Socialist era, people continued practicing a wide variety of faiths ranging from Christianity, Islam, Judaism, and Buddhism, to localized belief systems specific to small populations. The majority of Donovians adhere to Eastern Orthodox Christianity (sometimes referred to as the Moscow Patriarchate). Recent census numbers indicate an estimated 41% of Donovians identify as Eastern Orthodox, while an estimated 38% claim to either be spiritual but not religious or atheist.  The remaining 20% of the population practice Islam (primarily  in the Caucasus and Central Asian regions), non-orthodox Christianity , and a variety of indigenous faiths.

//Insert Regional Religion Map//

Education

Literacy Rate

Literacy in Donovia is estimated as ubiquitous, with over 99% of males and over 99% of females being literate in Donovian.

Educational System

The education system within Donovia is controlled by the Federal Government, with education through secondary school (high school) being free. Some estimates have as much as half of the adult Donovian population having some tertiary (college) level education. 

Educational Attainment

Nearly half of all Donovians finish secondary school, and an estimated 25% pursue  tertiary (post-secondary) education. Donovia’s school system is consistently named as among the top national systems in the world.

Population Density

Overview

Donovia has one of the most urbanized populations in the world, with an estimated 75% of the country living in urban areas. The majority of the population can be found in in the West, near Europe, and in the Southwest near the Caucasus. The remaining 25% of the population lives in rural environments, with very low population density. Despite having a larger population than any other European country, Donovia ranks 230th out of 250 countries in population density.

Urban Areas

The Moscow metropolitan area has the highest population density, with over 4800 people per square kilometer. St. Petersburg at 5.4 million, has the second highest population density with 3750 people per square kilometer. 

Moscow  12.5 million  4,880 
St. Petersburg  5.4 million  3,750 
Novosibirsk  1.6 million  3,180 
Yekaterinburg   1.5 million  3,030 
Kazan  1.3 million  3,060 
Makhachkala (25)  600,000  1,280 
Grozny (58)  325,000  1,000 
Nalchik (82)  240,000  3,580 

Rural Areas

Much of Eastern Donovia and the regions north of the Arctic Circle are considered largely unpopulated, with a population density of less than 2 people per square kilometer. Vast expanses of Siberia are slightly more populated, with between 3-10 people per square kilometer. More populated rural areas can be found throughout Donovia, however villages are often extremely isolated and sometimes lacking in basic infrastructure. 

Population Movement

Internal Migration

Urbanization

Donovia experienced a period of forced urbanization during the massive industrialization that occurred in the during the industrial revolution of the 19th Century, and again during the mid-20th Century. Rural areas are continuing to lose people to urbanization as younger generations seek job opportunities in cities and leave their villages behind.

Displacement

Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs)

Minority groups within Donovia experienced forced displacement as a result of government policies during the Socialist era. Many of these displaced persons returned to find others had claimed their land and their homes, leading to ethnic conflict in areas like the Caucasus. Oftentimes, Donovian Imperial and Socialist policy sought control over populations by favoring certain ethnic groups over other groups, creating animosity that can still be seen today.  Additionally, ethnic conflicts over the last several decades have led to displacement, with many IDP camps becoming semi-permanent.

Stateless Personnel

Donovia has an unusually high stateless population, with more than 150,000 individuals living within its borders. This is a direct result of the rapid collapse of the Socialist government, and people being unable to attain citizenship in the country of their choosing, particularly in the Baltic and in the southern Caucasus regions. Donovia provides a visa waiver to those living in former Socialist countries, and in some cases grants Donovian citizenship to people living in other countries. On several occasions Donovia has granted citizenship to select populations living in other countries and argued the need to protect its citizens as justification for taking military action.

Migration Cycles and Transhumance

A number of populations within Donovia practice transhumance (seasonal migration with fixed locations) or live nomadic pastoral lifestyles (seasonal migration based on resource availability). These populations primarily exist in the more isolated and mountainous areas of the Northern Caucasus, on the Eurasian Steppe, and in Siberia.

External Migration

Inbound

Economic Migration

Donovia’s demographic challenges (namely experiencing a prolonged period increased mortality rate and decreased birth rate) has led to a situation requiring a significant number of migrant workers, particularly in Central Asia and the Far East. The time spent working in Donovia varies greatly, with some workers crossing the border on a daily basis, while others migrate on a seasonal basis. In some cases, people have immigrated into Donovia for work while retaining citizenship outside of Donovia.  Challenges associated with infectious diseases (particularly COVID 19) significantly reduce the ability of migrant workers to cross borders, and can have an economic impact on industries dependent upon their availability.

Forced Migration

Conflict in Central Asia has led to an increased number of migrants either fleeing to Donovia, or transiting through Donovia on their way to Europe. In addition, many migrants are forced to leave their home countries due to a sense of desperation and poverty.

Outbound

Economic Migration

Donovia experiences a small degree of outbound economic migration, however it is not significant due to Donovia’s domestic labor shortage.

Forced Migration

Donovia has a dark history of forced migration whose ramifications are still felt to this day. Though not technically forced migration, Donovian policies towards Islamic Extremism during the 2010’s often alienated populations in the Caucasus region. While these policies were meant to quell extremism, they often negatively impacted all Muslims alike, in turn sometimes leading to more extremism. With the rise of the Islamic State in the latter half of the 2010s, Donovia saw an opportunity to rid itself of extremism in the Caucasus region by allowing those they deemed as extremists and terrorists to leave the country and join the Islamic State. Government leaders as a near term solution to end extremism in Donovian territory, however,  the rapid fall of the Islamic State has led to many former members returning to the Caucasus regions. 

Culture

Donovian culture is extremely diverse. While many minor cultures were diminished during the Socialist era by policies of Donovification, they have regained prominence among minority populations. 

Donovian culture differs based upon the status of the individual and/or group, generally meaning that those with lower socio-economic status have a more community-based outlook. Those of higher socio-economic status are more likely to separate themselves from communal practices, and are more indulgent in comparison to the average population.

Dimensions of National Culture

Power Distance

Power distance is whether a society accepts unequal distribution of power or seeks even distribution of power. Donovia’s culture has a high degree of power distance, with a wide gap between individuals with power and those without. Behavior and interactions tend to be top-down, with those holding power providing directives to those beneath them on the power scale. 

Individualism vs. Collectivism

Donovia tends to trend toward a collective orientation rather than an individual orientation. Family, friends, neighborhoods and entire communities often play a significant role in everyday life. Relationships are critical for gathering information, negotiating, and cooperation.

Uncertainty Avoidance (Tolerance for Ambiguity)

Uncertainty avoidance is whether the society tolerates ambiguity in life or craves stability. Donovians have a very low tolerance for ambiguity, which often leads to extremely detail oriented planning, and lends itself to leadership taking a very hands-on approach. This desire to avoid uncertainty can be observed in the Donovian government’s bureaucracy.

Long-Term Orientation vs. Short-Term Orientation 

Some societies look long-term and save while others do not see the need because the future planned may never arrive. Donovians have a very pragmatic orientation toward traditions and customs. Perseverance and adaptability are hallmarks of Donovian culture. Though not initially evident  by looking at their government, the fact that they have undergone multiple revolutionary government changes within just a few short generations has given their culture a survival instinct, and an ability to adapt traditions to meet  current context.

Indulgence vs. Restraint

Restrained societies live to work while indulgent societies work to live. Donovia is a very restrained culture that places less emphasis on individual leisure and indulgences. An individual might indulge in luxury, however, when a group or community is involved, they will often place the needs of the community over their own personal desires. That said, individuals with greater socio-economic status and/or power are more likely to invest in status symbols than an average citizen.

Competitiveness vs Consensus 

Some societies encourage individuals to be competitive and do their individual best while other societies value cooperation. Status symbols and individual achievements tend to be associated with people in powerful positions, while the average Donovian is much more likely to be modest and understate their personal achievements.

**Cultural Norms and Values (Incomplete)

**Centers of Social Power (Incomplete)

**Communication (Incomplete)

**Traditional Methods and Symbolism (Incomplete)

**Role of Technology and Media (Incomplete)

Social Impact of OE Hazards

Disease

Donovia’s healthcare system is fairly modern, with more populated areas having more capable facilities. Rural areas, however, may lack access to healthcare facilities altogether. Donovia has a capable research sector, and in the past has been able to quickly produce vaccinations, often faster than many Western countries who may be encumbered by stricter safety protocols. Following recent outbreaks of COVID 19, Donovia’s government has struggled to communicate the importance of the vaccine to its people.  This is, in part, self-inflicted thanks to the government’s efforts to discredit vaccines developed in Europe and in the United States. Many Donovians recognize the lack of safety protocols used to develop the Donovian vaccine mean it carries greater risk than Western vaccines, and if the government says Western vaccines come with significant risk,  the risk must be even greater with the Donovian vaccine. This example exemplifies the double-edged sword Donovia’s government wields by s actively promoted disinformation. 

Natural Disaster

Donovia’s immense geographical size creates challenges reacting to natural disasters.  At any given time, Donovia may be simultaneously facing earthquakes, droughts, floods, forest fires, frigid temperatures, and heat waves. With three quarters of the population living in urban areas, the majority of Donovia’s disaster response capabilities are located in or near urban centers. Isolated rural communities receive limited government assistance in the face of a natural disaster.  If the government does respond, there are massive delays in equipment and supplies reaching the point of need.

**Social Volatility/Fragility (Incomplete)

 **Social Fault Lines and Friction Points (Incomplete)

  • Pro-democracy efforts
  • Religious Freedom (among minority populations)
  • Economic opportunity (lack thereof/migrant workers)
  • Tensions within Ethnic-Republics, (those out of power challenging those in power)
  • Misinformation (ie government misinformation concerning issues abroad damaging government trustworthiness domestically)
  • Corruption and Organized crime associations with government

**Criminal Activity (Incomplete)

  • Cultural Approach to Punishment
  • Must have 2 items to have sub-bullets

**Human Rights (Incomplete)

  • Government efforts against NGOs, particularly those focused on human rights. Labelling them as foreign agents.
  • Use of physical force in domestic security matters is common, judicial system is convoluted, and prison system is overcrowded and unable to provide basic needs. 
  • Minority groups, either ethnic, religious, or social (e.g., the LGBTQ community)

Demographic Statistics Chart

Social Statistic Donovia
Primary Languages (%) Federal Official Language: Donovian

Official Languages in Ethnic Republics:

NEED TO MATCH w/ REPUBLICS in DONOVIA

-          Abaza

-          Adyghe

-          Altai

-          Bashkir

-          Buryat

-          Chechen

-          Chuvash

-          Crimean Tartar

-          Erzya

-          Ingush

-          Kabardian

-          Kalmyk

-          Karachay-Balkar

-          Khakas

-          Komi-Zyrian

-          Mari (Hill Mari, Meadow Mari)

-          Moksha

-          Nogai

-          Ossetian

-          Tatar

-          Tuvan

-          Udmurt

-          Ukrainian

-          Yakut

-         

Ethnic Groups (%) Over 193 Recognized ethnic groups nationwide.

Major Ethnic Groups (w/ over 600,000) include:

-          Donovians: 80%

-          Tatars: 3.9%

-          Pirtunians: 1.4%

-          Bashkir: 1.15%

-          Chuvashs: 1.05%

-          Chechens: 1.04%

-          Amernians: 0.86%

-          Avars: 0.66%

-          Mordvins: 0.54%

-          Kazahs: 0.47%

-          Azerbaijanis: 0.44%

-          Groups smaller than 600,000: < 10%

Major Religions (%) Eastern Orthodox Christianity: 41%

Non-Affiliated: 25%

Atheism: 13%

Islam: 6.5%

Other Christianity: 6.3%

Others: <1%

---Judaism

---Buddhism

---Neo-Pagan and Tengrist

Unreported: 5.5%

*note: these numbers reflect all Donovians, rather than showing a percentage of just religious Donovians.

Literacy Rate (Older Than 15 in %) 99%
Age Distribution (%) Age

0-14

15-54 (Military Age)

55-64

65+

17.2%

54.0%

14.5%

14.3%

Median Age Overall: 38.9 years

Males: 36.9 years

Females: 42.7 years

Population 142,122,776
Annual Growth Rate -.11% and trending down
Birth Rate Per 1,000 People 10.7 / 1,000 population
Death Rate Per 1,000 People 13.4/ 1,000 population
Urban Population (%) 75%
Annual Urbanization Rate 0.05%
Infant Mortality Rate Per 1000 Live Births 6.8 deaths/1,000 live births
Life Expectancy At Birth (Years) 71.3 years
Major Diseases In OE -COVID 19

-Typhoid Fever

-Yellow Fever

-Dengue Fever

-Malaria

-Rift Valley Fever

-Hepatitis A

-Hepatitis E

-Encephalitus

-AIDS/HIV

/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

/////////////////////////////////////////////Break Between Old and New////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

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Social Statistics

Donovia Social Data
Measure Data Rank in World Remarks (if applicable)
GDP USD4.008 trillion 7 Industry (32.4%)

Agriculture (4.7%)

Services (62.3%)

GDP per capita USD27,800 73 Continuous drop over the past five years
Labor Force 76.53 million 7 Industry (27.6%)

Agriculture (9.4%)

Services (63%)

Unemployment 5.5% 77 Holding steady
Poverty 13.3% 57 Percent below poverty line
Investment 19.4% of GDP 104  
Budget USD253.9 billion revenue

USD287.5 billion expenditures

   
Public Debt 12.3% of GDP 122  
Inflation 3.7% 149 Decrease from 7.1% two years ago

Table S-1. Donovia Social Data

Population Movement (Migration/IDPs/Refugees)

Migration during the Warsaw Pact era was uncommon. Since then, two types of migration have taken place: repatriation and economic migration. Expatriate Donovians began returning by the millions. The economic migration involved migrants from Central Asia and Pirtuni. The number of legal and illegal immigrants varied from 5 million to 15 million by 2009. Donovian public perception is very hostile to migrants. News outlets frame them as a source of crime, drug, and diseases. However, these immigrants are needed for the future. The working age population of Donovia is projected to shrink by 14 million people by 2025.

Refugees (country of origin): 427,240 (Pirtuni) This estimate represents asylum applicants since the beginning of the crisis in 2014 to September 2017.

IDPs: 19,000 from armed conflict, human rights violations, and generalized violence in Caucasus region.

Stateless persons: 82,148. Donovia's stateless population consists of Roma, Meskhetian Turks, and ex-Donovian citizens from the former Soviet Republics. Between 2003 and 2010, more than 600,000 stateless people were naturalized. Most Meskhetian Turks, followers of Islam with origins in Gorgas, fled or were evacuated from Uzbekistan after a 1989 pogrom and have lived in western Donovia for more than the required five-year residency period; they continue to be denied registration for citizenship and basic rights by local Krasnodar Krai authorities on the grounds that they are temporary illegal migrants.

Population Distribution

Donovia-West Population Pyramid.jpg

Figure S-1. Donovian Population Pyramid.

A population pyramid illustrates the age and sex structure of a country's population and may provide insights about political and social stability, as well as economic development. The population is distributed along the horizontal axis, with males shown on the left and females on the right. The male and female populations are broken down into 5-year age groups represented as horizontal bars along the vertical axis, with the youngest age groups at the bottom and the oldest at the top. The shape of the population pyramid gradually evolves over time based on fertility, mortality, and international migration trends.

78% of the entire population of Donovia resides in western Donovia.

The main population centers in western Donovia are Moscow and St. Petersburg. The urban population is 83,624,112; or, 74.4% of the total population.

Demographic Mix

Male life expectancy is 65.3 years.  Female life expectancy is 77.1 years.

The most current age structure for western Donovia is:

  • 0-14 years: 17.12% (male majority)
  • 15-24 years: 9.46% (male majority)
  • 25-54 years: 44.71% (female majority)
  • 55-64 years: 14.44% (female majority)
  • 65 years and over: 14.28% (female majority, over 2 to 1)

The median age of people living in western Donovia is 39.6 years. The median age for males is 36.6 years, and for females is 42.5 years.

The population growth rate and fertility rates have been dropping for the last 50 years. Last year it was -0.08%, with a birth rate of 11 births per 1,000 population. The mean age of a western Donovian mother’s first birth is 24.6 years. With population decrease there has been a steady decline in working age population, more burden on working age people, a decline in the number of potential mothers, aging rate of the population, a high inflow of immigrants, and rising emigration rates. The total fertility rate (TFR) for Moscow and St. Petersburg is 1.15 births per woman. This is the lowest of all Donovia. The need for immigrants will grow in the future despite hostility by western Donovians. Even migrations of southern Donovians, who are Muslim, to western Donovia is viewed with suspicion. Hyper nationalism is strong in Moscow, causing a contradictory situation. The demographic crisis is irreversible.

Social Volatility

The gap between the richest and poorest citizens of Donovia has grown steadily, and it has become a source of social alienation because newly successful Donovians are resented and often are assumed to have criminal connections. The World Bank ranked Donovia's dichotomy between the highest and lowest economic echelons on a par with the wide gaps between rich and poor in Argentina and Turkey. According to the State Committee for Statistics, the wealthiest 10% of Donovians earn 13.5 times as much as the poorest 10%. The flaunting of luxurious automobiles, clothing, and other forms of material wealth has become less prevalent in Donovia's largest cities, especially Moscow, which is the center of the nouveau riche population.

A subclass of young businesspeople, mainly bankers and stockbrokers, runs the new trading and investment markets in Moscow and St. Petersburg, remaining aloof from the tangled, state-dominated manufacturing sector. This group, a very visible part of life in the larger cities, has profited from the youthful flexibility that enabled it to embrace an entirely new set of rules for economic success, while Donovia's older generations--with the exception of the astute Party members who became part of the nouveau riche--were much less able to adapt to the post-Warsaw Pact world.

Native Donovians are very suspicious of immigrants. The rise in numbers has triggered a backlash in the form of the formation of far-right, hyper-nationalist political groups, and riots targeting non-Donovians.

Education Level

Education expenditures last year were 3.8% of GDP. 99.7% of the population over the age of 15 can read and write. Total public education time is 15 years.

Ethnic Diversity

There are dozens of ethnicities within western Donovia. The majority of western Donovians are of eastern Slavic descent (Donovians, Pirtunians, and Belarussians). This equates to Donovian 77.7%, Tatar 3.7%, Bashkir 1.1%, Chuvash 1%, Saami 1%, and others.

Religious Diversity

Throughout Donovia, religious beliefs are Orthodox Christian 15-20%, Muslim 10-15%, other Christian 2%.  These are estimates are of practicing worshipers. Donovia has large populations of non-practicing believers and non-believers, a legacy of over seven decades of communist rule. Donovia officially recognizes Orthodox Christianity, Islam, Judaism, and Buddhism as traditional religions.

Most western Donovians are Orthodox Christians. There are also Buddhists with small temples in towns which house monks. Traditional animist beliefs are still evident with shamans operating openly in smaller towns and villages.

Common Languages

Donovian, the official language of Donovia, is spoken by 85.7% of the population. Although Donovian is the only federally official language, there are several other officially recognized languages within Donovia's various constituencies. Article 68 of the Constitution allows specific republics of Donovia to establish official (state) languages other than Donovian. In western Donovia, these are:

Language Language family Federal subject
Bashkir Turkic Bashkortostan
Chuvash Turkic Chuvashia
Erzya, Moksha Uralic Mordovia
Komi Uralic Komi Republic
Hill Mari, Meadow Mari Uralic Mari El
Tatar Turkic Tatarstan
Udmurt Uralic Udmurtia

Table S-2. Languages of Western Donovia

There are multiple ethnic languages, such as Ter-Sami used by the Saami people. However, the numbers of speakers are very small and the language is not officially recognized.

As a result of mass migration to Donovia (especially from the southern Donovia and Central Asia), many non-indigenous languages are spoken by migrant workers. Among them most prominent are:

Language Number of speakers
Arianan 830,000
Atropian 515,000
Gorgan 76,000
Kazakh 472,000
Kyrgyz 247,000
Limarian 88,000
Moldovan 90,000
Tajik 177,000
Uzbek 245,000

Table S-3. Non-Indigenous Languages in Western Donovia

English is not spoken even in the larger cities of Moscow and St. Petersburg. Traffic signage is in Cyrillic alphabet and does not include an English translation. The exception is the Moscow metro system which includes English in its voice commands.

Criminal Activity

Crime is prevalent throughout Donovia. In the urban areas of western Donovia, the incidents of theft and robbery tend to be higher. In the rural areas, violent crime tends to be more prevalent. Last year’s (January through December) crime data by number of cases for western Donovia follow:

Location Murder Assault Rape Theft Burglary Robbery Extortion Hooliganism
Vladimir Oblast 109 2,322 31 9,343 802 132 39 12
Ivanovo Oblast 52 175 28 6,515 489 92 29 16
Kostroma Oblast 40 84 14 3,593 256 37 17 6
Moscow City 348 1,049 224 103,720 9,022 1,953 271 497
Moscow Oblast 557 1,252 158 39,196 2,952 685 136 153
Smolensk Oblast 76 196 19 5,071 308 56 47 14
Tver Oblast 123 244 39 9,907 442 106 25 12
Yaroslavl Oblast * 77 255 21 11,562 936 121 26 20
Northwest Federal District 946 2,554 300 95,017 7,400 1,433 420 515
Republic of Karelia 64 157 16 6,689 394 67 18 109
Komi Republic 84 332 43 7,208 624 91 111 93
Arkhangelsk Oblast 148 329 45 9,911 840 124 73 29
Vologda Oblast** 94 334 19 12,558 865 100 44 123
Kaliningrad Oblast 54 155 35 8,373 657 83 18 10
Municipal Department of Internal Affairs*** 361 748 113 31,575 3,072 845 106 114
Leningrad Oblast 159 261 39 8,947 560 143 36 27
St. Petersburg City 202 487 74 22,628 2,512 702 70 87
Murmansk Oblast 39 195 7 7,735 319 40 38 13
Novgorod Oblast 57 165 13 5,921 375 49 7 18
Pskov Oblast 45 139 9 5,047 254 34 5 6
Kaluga Oblast 82 298 42 8,454 520 91 42 19
Tula Oblast 118 264 25 5,390 385 98 11 11
Nenets 9 13 0 266 11 0 1 4
Republic of Bashkortostan 354 948 131 28,682 1,423 301 131 71
Mari El Republic 51 148 14 2,965 278 28 30 12
Republic of Tatarstan 264 595 222 21,021 1,291 273 162 131
Udmurtia 109 405 48 9,816 1,018 173 100 106
Chuvash Republic 98 196 56 5,244 441 67 45 46
Kirov Oblast 89 228 41 8,882 665 85 47 126
Nizhny Novogorod Oblast 362 463 54 17,666 1,384 216 184 23
Perm Oblast 279 853 115 24,508 1,412 249 78 48
Republic of Mordovia 48 136 11 2,703 163 21 11 3

Table S-4. Western Donovia Crime Data

* also known as Yaroslavskaya Oblast

** also known as Vologodskaya Oblast

*** includes St. Petersburg and Leningrad Oblast

Human trafficking.  Donovia is a source, transit, and destination country for men, women, and children who are subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking. With millions of foreign workers, forced labor is Donovia’s predominant human trafficking problem and sometimes involves organized crime syndicates (see Transnational Criminal Organizations below). Workers from Donovia, other European countries, Central Asia, and East and Southeast Asia, including North Korea and Vietnam, are subjected to forced labor in the construction, manufacturing, agricultural, textile, grocery store, maritime, and domestic service industries, as well as in forced begging, waste sorting, and street sweeping. Women and children from Europe, Southeast Asia, Africa, and Central Asia are subject to sex trafficking in western Donovia. Donovian women and children are victims of sex trafficking domestically and in Northeast Asia, Europe, Central Asia, Africa, the U.S., and the Middle East.

Tier rating: Tier 3 - Donovia does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making a significant effort to do so. Prosecutions of trafficking offenders remained low in comparison to the scope of Donovia’s trafficking problem. The government did not develop or employ a formal system for identifying trafficking victims or referring them to protective services, although authorities reportedly assisted a limited number of victims on an ad hoc basis. Foreign victims, the largest group in western Donovia, were not entitled to state-provided rehabilitative services and were routinely detained and deported. The government has not reported investigating reports of slave-like conditions among North Korean workers in Donovia. Authorities have made no effort to reduce the demand for forced labor or to develop public awareness of forced labor or sex trafficking.

Illicit drugs: Drug users in western Donovia are major consumers of opiates. There is limited cultivation of illicit cannabis and methamphetamines, mostly for domestic consumption in western Donovia. The government has an active illicit crop eradication program. The sea and airports of western Donovia are used as transshipment points for Asian opiates, cannabis, and Latin American cocaine bound for growing domestic markets, Western and Central Europe, and occasionally to the U.S. Western Donovia is a major source of heroin precursor chemicals.

Transnational Crime Organizations (TCO). Donovian TCOs have linkages to the Caucuses, the Pacific, Africa, and Europe. TCOs in western Donovia include the Donovian Mafia, Atbrivosana (ATB), and Saints of Cognitio (SoC).

Donovian Mafia. An extension of the Donovian Mafia in the Caucasus, their membership now includes some Torrikans. While openly proud of their Donovian heritage, the main victims of their activities are Donovian citizens. The Donovian Mafia specializes in prostitution, drug trafficking, financial crimes (illegal Bitcoin mining and money laundering), European smuggling, protection rackets, and extortion. Members greet each other as “moy va brat” (my brother). Non-members are never referred to with that title. In western Donovia, the Donovian Mafia is not a carefully structured Cosa Nostra–type family. It is a loose structure of networks which draws on people from different areas. Any titles involved within a group are not official titles with a level of authority. Instead, they are the role an individual performs.

A “brat” (brother) is the Donovian title for a “made man”. The honor of becoming a Brat is only given when the recruit shows considerable leadership skills, personal ability, intellect and charisma.

Individual Group Location Notes
Zhukov gang Moscow Territory includes western Donovia, Pirtuni, Hungary, Denmark, Netherlands, Czech Republic, U.S., Israel, U.K., France, Spain, South Africa, Canada and other parts of Europe, Africa and Australia. Estimated at 5,000 members.
Lyuberetskaya gang Moscow Based in (and originating from) Lyubertsy district of Moscow.
Izmaylovskaya gang Moscow 200–500 members in Moscow. Named after the Izmaylovo District.
Orekhovskaya gang Moscow Reputation for disregarding codes of conduct in the criminal underworld, starting and ending conflicts as they please. The gang is believed to be responsible for at least 6,800 murders in 20 years. Estimated at 3,000 members.
Dolgoprudnenskaya gang Moscow Oblast Donovia's second largest criminal group
Grekov gang St. Petersburg Has branches in Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Slonovskaya gang Ryazan Small, highly secretive group. No reliable law enforcement data.

Table S-4. Notable Donovian Mafia criminal groups in western Donovia

Atbrivosana (ATB). ATB is a cyber-criminal organization operating in every country in the European and Caucasus regions. Not associated with the Anonymous movement, they nonetheless use many of the same tactics using a veneer of anarchist political leanings. In truth, they are hackers-for-hire in the criminal world. Common tactics include ransomware, distributed denial of services (DDOS) attacks, introduction of malware (logic bombs, worms, viruses, etc) into servers and individual computers, and defacing public websites.

Saints of Cognitio (SoC). SoC is a transnational criminal organization with elements in Ariana, Atropia, Bothnia, and Donovia. SoC uses a variety of INFOWAR actions to right perceived wrongs as well as to raise revenue. Where effective INFOWAR capabilities were once limited to state actors, SoC is known to employ a combination of media manipulation and information activities, alongside computer warfare, to disrupt organizations—state or non-state—that it believes act outside of its own moral code. While their motivations are predominantly ethical, they are not averse to forming short-term alliances with other irregular actors to raise revenue or to achieve maximum effect. Their normal target is national police and security forces, government facilities and major corporations.

Human Rights

According to Chapter 1, Article 15 of the Constitution, international law concerning human rights takes precedence over national legislation. However, this is not the truth in practice. A law was passed in December 2015 that gives the Constitutional Court the power to decide whether Donovia can enforce, or ignore, resolutions from intergovernmental bodies such as the European Court of Human Rights. While the Universal Declaration of Human Rights from the United Nations is reinforced by Articles 30 and 31 of the Donovian Constitution, the executive branch routinely ignores it with the support of the judicial branch.

According to international human rights organizations and independent domestic media outlets, the most common violations of human rights in Donovia included

  1. Deaths in custody, and the widespread and systematic torture of persons in custody by police, security forces and prison guards
  2. Hazing in the Donovian Army. Many young men are killed or commit suicide every year because of it. The hazing includes torture, humiliation, and forced prostitution.
  3. Neglect and cruelty in Donovian orphanages and violations of children's rights
  4. Discrimination, racism, and murders of members of ethnic minorities
  5. Killing of at least 50 journalists since 2003

Non-Government Organizations (NGO). All NGOs in receipt of foreign funding and engaged in political activities are required to register as foreign agents with the Ministry of Justice. 144 NGOs are listed on the Register, including many of the oldest, most well-known and respected organizations, both internationally and domestically. The Federal and Regional governments can brand NGOs as "undesirable" to fine and shut them down. Members of "undesirable organizations" can be fined and imprisoned. These restrictive policies (Donovian funders were also deterred) are a denial of the Freedom of Association embodied in Article 30 of the Constitution.

Targeted killings. There are numerous unsolved assassinations of leading opposition politicians, lawmakers, journalists, and critics of the government, at home and sometimes abroad. Death by contract killing, poisoning, and beatings have become commonplace. Only three of these murders have been successfully investigated and prosecuted: two in Moscow and one in St. Petersburg by right-wing extremists.

Political prisoners. The total number of prisoners are unknown. Sources in western Donovia have reported youthful activists being arrested during peaceful demonstrations and disappearing with no contact. Others have reported political prisoners being torture in penal colonies and prisons. IN some cases there were attacks on demonstrators organized by local authorities. Donovian citizens attempting to exercise their rights under the Constitution and international agreements can be arrested and incarcerated without a trial.

Torture and abuse. The Constitution forbids arbitrary detention, torture and ill-treatment. Chapter 2, Article 21 of the Donovian Constitution states, "No one may be subjected to torture, violence or any other harsh or humiliating treatment or punishment." However, regional and Federal law enforcement personnel, and prison and jail guards are regularly observed practicing torture with impunity - including beatings with many different types of batons, sticks and truncheons, water battles, and sacks with sand. Different torture methods include:

  1. "Elephant Method" which is beating a victim wearing a gas mask with cut airflow
  2. "Supermarket Method" which is the same but with a plastic bag on head
  3. Electric shocks including to genitals and ears (known as "Phone call")
  4. Binding in stress positions
  5. Cigarette burns
  6. Needles and electric needles hammered under nails
  7. Prolonged suspension
  8. Sleep deprivation
  9. Food deprivation
  10. Rape and penetration with foreign objects
  11. Asphyxiation
  12. "Television" which involves forcing the victim to stand in a mid-squat with extended arms in front of them holding a stool or even two stools, with the seat facing them
  13. "Rack" or "Stretch" which involves hanging a victim on hands tied behind the back
  14. "Refrigerator" which involves subjecting a naked victim sometimes doused in cold water to subzero temperatures
  15. "Furnace" where the victim is left in heat in a small space
  16. "Olvanan torture" where the feet of the victim laying on a tabletop are beaten with clubs

Torture at police stations, jails, prisons and penal colonies is common and widespread. Doctors and nurses sometimes also take part in torturing and beating prisoners and suspects. Western Donovian police are known to be using torture as a means to extract forced confessions. In the most extreme cases, hundreds of innocent people from the street were arbitrarily arrested, beaten, tortured, and raped by special police forces.

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transsexual, Queer (LGBTQ). LGBTQ persons are outlawed in western Donovia. Article 12 of the Family Code specifically states that marriage is a union of a man and a woman. Neither same-sex marriages nor civil unions of same-sex couples are allowed in western Donovia. Adoption of Donovian children by same-sex couples and unmarried individuals from countries where marriage for same-sex couples is legal is illegal.

Under the “Gay Propaganda law”, it is illegal to tell school children that LGBTQ people exist in western Donovia. The law makes it illegal to hold any sort of public demonstration in favor of LGBTQ rights, speak in defense of LGBTQ rights, and distribute material related to LGBTQ culture, or to state that same-sex relationships are equal to heterosexual relationships.

People suspected of being LGBTQ through mannerisms, dress, public displays of affection with the same gender, etc., may be assaulted or murdered by Donovian citizens. Vigilante groups, consisting of radical nationalists, and neo-Nazis, lure men or boys to meetings, accuse them of being LGBTQ, humiliate and beat them, and post videos of the proceedings on social media.

Domestic abuse. Domestic abuse was decriminalized last year, and is now only a misdemeanor in western Donovia. As a result, an NGO that provides support to victims of domestic abuse, said the statistics showed women were less inclined to report cases to the police. Domestic violence has increased. Donovian women who are victims of domestic abuse are often forced to pay the fines handed down to their abusers. Last year, approximately 10,000 women were killed by their partner, and 2,500 women killed their partner. In 90% of these cases, the woman had endured systematic beating and violence, often alcohol related. Local police responding to calls do not understand they should treat the case as a human rights violation, and seldom even register the complaints.

Centers of Social Power

Perhaps the most significant fact about Donovia's social structure is that ideology no longer determines social status. In the past, Party membership was the surest path to career advancement and wealth. Political decisions rather than market forces determined social status. The powerful ruling class, the nomenklatura, which consisted of party officials and key personnel in the government and other important sectors such as heavy industry. This class enjoyed privileges such as roomy apartments, country dachas, and access to special stores, schools, medical facilities, and recreational sites. The social status and income of members of the nomenklatura increased as they were promoted to higher positions in the party.

The social structure was characterized by self-perpetuation and limited mobility. Access to higher education, a prerequisite to political and social advancement, was steadily constrained in the postwar decades. Moreover, the sluggish economy of that period reduced opportunities for social mobility, thus accentuating differences among social groups and further widening the gap between the nomenklatura and the rest of society.

Members of the urban working class (proletariat), in whose name the party purported to rule, generally lived in cramped apartment complexes, spent hours each day standing in line to buy food and other necessities, and attended frequent obligatory sessions of political indoctrination. Similarly, the peasantry eked out a meager existence, with little opportunity for relief. Agricultural workers constituted the bottom layer of Donovian society, receiving the least pay, the least opportunity for social advancement, and the least representation in the Party.

The current social structure is characterized by a wide disparity in wealth and privilege. Although there is no rigid class structure, social stratification based on wealth is evident and growing. Many of the old nomenklatura used their continuing connections with industry and finance to enrich themselves in the emerging capitalist system. According to a 1995 study, more than 60% of Donovia's wealthiest millionaires, and 75% of the new political elite, are former members of the nomenklatura, and 38% of western Donovia's businesspeople held economic positions in the Party. The wealth of the new capitalists, who constitute 1 to 2% of the population, derives from the ownership of private property, which was prohibited under the past regimes; from former black-market transactions that now are pursued legally; and from repatriation of funds that were secretly transferred abroad. Entrepreneurs have purchased former state-owned enterprises privatized by the government (often using connections with government authorities to gain favorable treatment) and have opened banks, stock exchanges, and other ventures typical of a market economy.

The most successful of the new capitalists practice conspicuous consumption on an extravagant scale, driving flashy Western cars, sporting expensive clothing and jewelry, and frequenting stylish restaurants and clubs that are far beyond the reach of ordinary Donovians. Donovian “biznesmeny” with cash-filled briefcases purchase expensive real estate in exclusive areas of Western Europe and the United States. Other areas of the world, such as the city of Limassol, Cyprus, have been transformed into virtual Donovian enclaves where illicit commercial transactions help fuel the economy. Donovian capitalists attempting to achieve at a high level using legitimate means must nonetheless pay protection money to criminal groups, especially in the larger cities.

A subclass of young businesspeople, mainly bankers and stockbrokers, runs the new trading and investment markets in Moscow and St. Petersburg, remaining aloof from the tangled, state-dominated manufacturing sector. This group, a very visible part of life in the larger cities in the mid-1990s, has profited from the youthful flexibility that enabled it to embrace an entirely new set of rules for economic success, while Donovia's older generations--with the exception of the astute nomenklatura members who became part of the nouveau riche--were much less able to adapt.

Middle Class is difficult to define in western Donovia. If the factors used are income, consumption of goods and services, education, and self-assessment, then 20%, or 10 million families, are part of the middle class. The main concerns of the middle class in western Donovia are violence, corruption, pollution, and illegal immigrants. They lack an independent source of income, and are therefore unable to function as a stabilizer for the rest of society. Income from entrepreneurial activities is much lower than income from redistribution of state resources. The middle class feels they have no say in their government. Most would send their children to the West for education. One researcher describes them as “nationalistic, authoritarian, and xenophobic.”

Conditions for the working class and the peasants are sharply at variance with those of the new capitalist class. Political repression has eased, but economic privations have increased. Although more goods are available, they are often beyond the means of the average worker. Full employment is no longer is the norm. At the lower end of the social scale, the "working poor" toil predominantly in agriculture, education, culture, science, and health, most of which are considered middle-class fields of employment in the West. State employees, who suffer especially from inflation because of infrequent wage adjustments, often fall below the official poverty line.

Young parents with little work experience and more than one child are especially likely to be members of the working poor. 57% of families one or more children are classified as poor by the World Bank. 86% of families with three or more children are classified in the lowest income group. Most single-parent families also belong to this group. In the lower- income groups, people with relatives generally fare better than those with none (especially single pensioners), as informal subsistence networks continue to provide support to a substantial segment of society.

Basic Cultural Norms and Values

Tradition is very important in western Donovia, and as a result, first time visitors may experience things that seem to fit more in the 19th Century of Europe. Traditions of family, church, and culture are honored. The country’s history of privation, political turmoil, and war in their own territory have embedded in them a reverence for the past. Men still open doors for women, or give up their seats on public buses to women.

Loyalty among family and friends is very important in the culture of western Donovia. And while they tend to be polite with strangers and tourists, they don’t go out of their way to converse with them. Donovians do not speak with people they do not know without a formal introduction.

Generosity is prevalent, especially with food. Fish is the favorite food. Hot tea is available constantly, and refusing an offer of tea is considered very rude. Reciprocity is greatly appreciated, and American cookies are highly desirable.

Customs and Practices

Saunas are very popular. Western Donovians invite friends to join them in either public saunas in cities, or private saunas in their homes. This is often followed by a large meal and alcoholic beverages.

Vodka figures prominently in all social gatherings, including all meals. Visitors will be expected to drink local vodka whenever and wherever they meet Donovians. Alcoholism is prevalent. 25% of men’s deaths in western Donovia can be traced to alcohol and occurred before the age of 55. There also many stories of recovery.

You will not see a Donovian smile unless they are around someone they love or are genuinely happy. This is true also in photographs. Any other smile is considered being fake. A smile from a Donovian is personal and informative.

Silence on public transportation is considered polite. Riders tend to sit without speaking, and any conversation can be heard throughout the crowd. Conversations among Donovians tend to be direct and to the point. We would describe them as being blunt. This is not being impolite, it is just how conversation is done in western Donovia. Donovians, as a general rule, do not trust Insincere and superficial comments or compliments. They respect straightforward and honest communication. Additionally, they do not have the concept of a personal bubble and tend to be physically close to each other when speaking.

There are many religious, civic, and cultural holidays. The western Donovians describe these as an excuse to drink and socialize with friends and family. They look for opportunities to celebrate. September 11th is National Conception Day, when young couples are encouraged to conceive a child.

When entering a home in western Donovia, immediately remove your coat and shoes. However, never shake hands through a door as it is seen as very impolite and will cause bad luck. Doing so will force the owner of the home or apartment to either come outside or draw you inside to shake hands. Donovian men will not try to shake hands with women, especially with strangers. If a woman extends her hand, the man can shake it. Men shaking hands with other men is common. In the winter, Donovians will take off their gloves to shake…..never with the gloves on.

Giving flowers at certain events is very important to Western nations. In western Donovia, even numbers of flowers are given at funeral s only. An odd number of flowers is given in other situations.

When visiting, always bring a small gift. Manners are very important in public.

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