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| Coat of Arms of the Republic |
HISTORY
The history of Lostisland, history of a game turned into an international organization, started on 2 July 2008 when a Russian schoolgirl made hir first try in roleplay games and created lostisland.clan.su – a text (forum) roleplay game about an expedition to aremote and mysterious island in an ocean. Who could ever imagine what would it turn into? Certainly, not even the administration, as less than half-a-year after foundation it abandoned the site.
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| Flag of the Republic of Lostisland |
THE LEADER
“I was a good leader, but not such a good game admin” – would he say afterwards. Despite several Mar’s attempts to revive the game and gather the runaway players, website was still dying from inactivity and lack of interest. There was nothing easier for Lostisland than to collapse at that stage, but like every time in before and in the future, salvation came from an unexpected corner. Stepan Ignatiev, pianist and composer and Mar’s friend who received an invitation to join the game, suddenly showed such a passionate interest that inactivity problem receded. Seeing his passion, more people started actively contributing to the game, and one could say it was prospering in the days of 2009–2010.
But apparently, the fate of Lostisland was to be something much greater than a humble roleplay game. Soon the euphoria ended, and inactivity embraced Lostisland again. Thinking about how to solve this problem, Mar and Ignatiev agreed that only drastic reforms can save the moribund Lostisland. And a crazy idea of implementing the game in real life pierced their brains – the neck or nothing card was played.
FIRST STEPS
Having heard of such entities previously, Mar and Ignatiev decided to create what is called a new nation project – an informal association with the aim of creating country. Recognizing the impossibility of gaining independence and sovereignty, it was decided that the new Lostisland will primarily be a cultural and social, not a political project. A country, albeit without real sovereignty, but based on principles of freedom and democracy – that’s was what the then roleplay game was about to be transitioned. And the work started quickly.
On 1–4 September 2010 (days which are now celebrated in Lostisland as the anniversary of independence) the main basis of a new Lostisland was made – the Constitution, the Flag, the Coat of Arms and of course, the pride of Lostisland – the National Anthem, composed by Stepan Ignatiev especially for this purpose. The project was officially renamed into the Republic of Lostisland, with the aim of highlighting its democratic and people-oriented nature. According to the Constitution, Mar and Ignatiev became Captains Regent – equal in their power Heads of State and Government, term currently used by the co-governors of the Republic of San Marino. In the first edition, it had been envisaged that the Captains Regent serve for a live term, but later it was limited to six years after which new governors should be elected.
After having done this, a special form of “applying for citizenship” was put on the new Lostisland’s website. And people started joining the project – some because of its queerness, some for willing to experience new feelings, some just for fun. On 23 October 2010 the first Certificate of Citizenship was signed by the Captains Regent and then shipped to the recipient. The new era of Lostisland has started.
Mar and Ignatiev founded a completely new Lostisland, but it was obvious that their work only starts. Despite several new participants joining the project, inactivity problem still remained unsolved. The creation of national symbolics was certainly not enough to develop the project, and pushing forward more activities was what the leadership had to do. With the aim of promoting the Republic of Lostisland in wider communities and making its symbolics more remarkable, several mugs with the flag and the then Coat of Arms were fabricated. Soon Lostisland entered into contacts with other similar projects, and while not all of these contacts were positive, experience gained during them was helpful for developing and strengthening the young Republic.
One important thing was still lacking though: a territory. And a rather quirky solution was found soon.
TERRITORY
The idea of claiming an existing private land plot was soon swept away due to its separatist appearance. Finding an unclaimed land plot and declaring symbolic “sovereignty” over it would be the best solution, but where to find it? As everyone knows, no unclaimed land exists in this world.
A solution was soon proposed by Dr Ilya Pakhomov, a friend of the Captains Regent, who pointed to Hunter Island – a volcanic islet in South Pacific, which due to its remoteness and lack of any resources including fresh water remains uninhabited. Having been part of the New Hebrides Condominium, it was not mentioned in the list of territories in any official documents upon the Condominium’s dissolution (though later it would become a disputed territory of France and Vanuatu), and after quick consideration it was decided to declaon 9 March 2011 the Republic of Lostisland was legally disestablished, but then re-founded on 11 March 2011 as a nation on Hunter Island. Does this mean that Lostisland “annexed” this land and undertook an imperialist expansion? The answer to this question is “no” – as it has been repeatedly stated by its leadership, Lostisland was, is, and will always remain a cultural and social project, not a political experiment or movement. The symbolical territorial “claims” of Lostisland shall be therefore considered as part of cultural heritage, and by no means as an attempt to secede from any existing country, nor as an attempt at contesting the territorial claims of France or Vanuatu which is a dispute we have no intentions of taking sides in.
Back in 2011, the Moscow-based founders of Lostisland couldn’t expect that in a little over a year the Lostislandic flag would be flying just one mile from Hunter Island. But as anyone familiar with the Lostislandic history could tell you, Lostisland isn’t particularly rife with meeting one’s expectations.
EXPEDITION TO HUNTER ISLAND
The history of Lostisland would be incomplete without mentioning one of its most notable andimpressive undertakings – the Expedition to Hunter Island. In April 2012, just one day after the Reunion, a proposal to establish the Ministry of Transport was received by the Captains Regent, with the aim of providing regular transportation to and from Hunter Island. Once it was accepted, Martin Legof, a captain with over 20 years of navigational experience and the new Minister of Transport of Lostisland who developed this project, started preparing an unprecedented in its scope campaign – a vessel expedition to Hunter Island. According to the drafted plan, in early July 2012, using a yacht utilized by the Ministry of Transport, the expedition will set sail from New Zealandic harbor of Kerikeri, being expected to reach Hunter Island in six days. It was also planned to install the flag of Lostisland on Hunter Island and plant a capsule with the list of citizens in it – for that purpose in Moscow were manufactured two exceptionally resistant flags, strictly complying with the national standart, and shipped from Russia to New Zealand. The package with flags arrived to the Ministry of Transport in Kerikeri at 2 July 2012 – coincidentially, exactly four years after a Russian girl created her first roleplay game about an expedition to a mysterious island. Several hours later Sylfia, yacht commissionned the Ministry of Transport of Lostisland, set sail and started her way to Hunter Island. Day to day, in four years the Lostislandic dream came true.As scheduled, on 11 July Sylfia has reached Hunter Island. But landing on it and doing everything as planned would apparently be a too simple and unromantic outcome –once the yacht approached the island, strong winds appeared from nowhere and made landing on the island impossible. As commanded by Captain Legof, Sylfia dropped her anchor several miles off coast the Hunter Island, and spent a night next to it. The Lostislandic flag, which made its way from Moscow to New Zealand and then to mid-ocean, was raised on board – but till nowadays, Hunter Island remains unbowed, and while the Ministry of Transport considers the possibility of arranging another expedition, the exact dates for it have not yet been set.
TERRITORY
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| Minister of Transport Martin Legof holding the Lostislandic Flag in front of Hunter Island. |
GOVERNMENT
The Federal Republic of Lostisland is, as the name suggests, a federal republic. Federal – because it consists, at least de jure, of autonomous federations, and Republic – because Prime Minister, the Head of Government, is elected (officially the President is elected too, but not the current one, who is legally Life President because of being the founder of Lostisland). An election of the Prime Minister takes part every four years and all citizens of Lostisland aged 18 and more have active and passive voting rights.
If the President is the brain of Lostisland, the government is truly its heart; it is responsible for implementing the policies outlined by President and exercising the entirety of the executive power in Lostisland. In case of a new President being elected (thing that is not likely to happen soon), the government is expected to resign, but may continue working until a new government is formed should the president decide so.
The Prime Minister is elected, but what about other ministers? It gets a bit more complicated here, to become a Lostislandic minister you need to be nominated by the Head of Government and appointed to the office by Head of State – apart from being, obviously, a Lostislandic citizen. And don’t expect this work to be a sinecure.
PRESIDENT
His Excellency the President of Lostisland, also known as the Federal President is the Lostislandic Head of State. According to the Lostislandic order of precedence, the position of President is ceremonially the most important Lostislandic state office. The duties of President include, among following:
Guaranting the Constitution, the rights and freedoms of man and woman
Appointing the Prime Minister after his election
Commanding the Lostislandic Armed Forces
Heading the Security Council of Lostisland
Appointing and dismissing the Lostislandic Ambassadors
Governing the foreign policy of Lostisland
Solving the issues of citizenship
Signing and promulgating laws (jointly with the Prime Minister)
The President of Lostisland is elected by Universal voting for four years. However, according to Article LXXIV of the Constitution, first election of President will take place after the death or resignation of Yaroslav Mar, one of the co-founders of the Federal Republic and most senior Lostislandian by date of joining the community, who serves as the Life President.
PRIME MINISTER
The Prime Minister of Lostisland (Dutch: Premier van Lostisland, Turkish: Lostisland Başbakan, Spanish: Primer Ministro de Lostisland, Russian: Премьер-министр Лостайленда), also known as the Federal Prime Minister is the head of government of Lostisland.
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| His Excellency Denis Tezdzhan |
This system was abolished when on 31 December 2014 President Yaroslav Mar announced in his New Year speech a major change in system of governance, including the announcement of an election of the Prime Minister, set to take place on 1 February.
From April to May 2013 the position of Prime Minister has been held by Denis Tezdzhan, who after his resignation was succeeded by Irina Sopas, the former Chief Judge, who served as Prime Minister until January 2015. On 31 December 2014, for the purpose of ensuring a safe competition in light of the approaching election, Irina Sopas was dismissed from her office and appointed Acting Prime Minister. On February 1, the election of the Prime Minister started, and Denis Tezdzhan, who, for the second time, announced his candidacy, won the race with a 54,6% of the votes, assuming the office on 14 February 2015.
Ministry of State Security
The Ministry of State Security (Dutch: Ministerie van Staatsveiligheid, Turkish: Devlet Güvenlik Bakanlığı, Spanish: Ministerio de Seguridad Estatal, Russian: Министерство государственной безопасности), formerly known as the Ministry of the Interior is a Lostislandic governmental agency dedicated to the preservation of law and order within the Federal Republic and ensuring the safety of Lostisland and her citizens, as well as to generallyt dealing with the issues of citizenship and overseeing citizenship applications.
Throughout its history, the office was occupied by three Lostislandic citizens, with the incumbent one being Theodor Saradjev, who assumed the office in January 2015.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the oldest and the most notable governmental subdivision of Lostisland committed to maintain contacts between Lostisland and outside world.
As transnational project, the Federal Republic of Lostisland welcomes contacts and co-operation with all peace-loving nations, states, companies and organizations. Throughout its history, Lostisland entered into treaties and agreements with multiple entities, the majority of them being other new nation projects. However, from 19 November 2014, in accordance with the change in foreign policy, the Federal Republic no longer engages into diplomatic relations.
The position of Minister of Foreign Affairs is hold by Ilian Kostov.
TABLE OF RANKS
The Table of Ranks is an official list of the government, military and court ranks and positions of the Federal Republic of Lostisland. Developed by the Ministry of State Security, it was adopted by a Presidential Decree on 20 March 2015.
MILITARY RANKS
Military ranks below the Table of Ranks: Private (Army), Seaman (Navy) (assigned at war time in case of general mobilization).
- Civil and military officers of 2 – 4 ranks are appointed directly by Presidential Decree, or on the proposal of the superiors and by Presidential Decree.
- Civil and military officers of the 1st rank are appointed by Presidential Decree.
- Civil and military officers of 5th rank are appointed by Presidential Decree or by decrees of the Ministers.
- Presidential Decree may revoke any appointment.
RELEVANT PEOPLE FROM LOSTISLAND
SENIOR LEADERSHIP
The leadership of the Federal Republic of Lostisland is composed by the three following members:
YAROSLAV MAR
Yaroslav Mar (Russian: Ярослáв Мáр, born April 22, 1995) is a Russian violinist and translator, founder of the Federal Republic of Lostisland.
DENIS TEZDZHAN
A bright Dutch IT and entrepreneur, Denis Tezdzhan served as the first Prime Minister of Lostisland in 2013, and was re-elected to office in February 2015.
GEORGE OPREA
A Romanian historian currently residing in Russia, as the head of the Judicial branch George Oprea is responsible for exercising justice within Lostisland.
THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC
The government of Lostisland is composed by four important members, which are the following:
THEODOR SARADJEV
A Russian producer, media manager and guitar player, Theodor Saradjev is responsible for all the things pertaining to the security of Lostisland.
ANDREY ORLOV
While not officially member of the Government, due to his position as Chief of the Civil Guard of Lostisland Andrey Orlov plays an important role in the safeguarding of Lostisland.
ILIAN KOSTOV
A retail agent and project manager, as the Minister of Foreign Affairs Ilian Kostov is responsible for communications between Lostisland and the world.
DIANA ASATRYAN
A student at Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Diana Asatryan demostrated large talent in the field of medicine and was appointed the Minister of Health.
AMBASSADORS
Ambassador of the Republic of Lostisland to Andorra, Eduard Pagés Riberaygua
Ambassador of the Republic of Lostisland to Pakistan, Muhammad Salman Mushtaq
Ambassador of the Republic of Lostisland to Kyrgyzstan, Ruslan Bechelov
Ambassador of the Republic of Lostisland to Austria, Dr.Hannes von Bald
Ambassador of the Republic of Lostisland to Italy, Don Giuseppe Sardo
Ambassador of the Republic of Lostisland to Argentina, Matias Exequiel Luan Gallardo
Ambassador of the Republic of Lostisland to Brazil and Uruguay, Kevin Buttow
Ambassador of the Republic of Lostisland to Brazil and Paraguay, William Henrique
Ambassador of the Republic of Lostisland to Spain, Juan José Gutiérrez de Olivares
Ambassador of the Republic of Lostisland to Dominican Republic, Alba Gabriela Santana Pereyra
Ambassador of the Republic of Lostisland to Croacia, Ivan Buljević
Ambassador of the Republic of Lostisland to the USA, David Schunk
Ambassador of the Republic of Lostisland to Nigeria, Joseph Rankin (consul elevated to ambassador)
Ambassador of the Republic of Lostisland to the United Kingdom, Robert Meyer
Ambassador of the Republic of Lostisland to Russia, Alexander Lasko
Ambassador of the Republic of Lostisland to Israel, Dr.Meir Kasirer
Ambassador of the Republic of Lostisland to France, Norbert L'Hostis
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| Life President Yaroslav Mar conducted a citizenship ceremony when Mr Sergey Zlatkis, became a new citizen of Lostisland |
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