[center][h2][b][color=007236]The Osladian Empire[/color][/b][/h2]
[img]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/80589065/Random/Proposal_flag_of_Georgia%28country%29.png[/img]
[url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6QA4aWzS6sc][b]God Save the Tsar![/b][/url][/center]

[center][b]The First Step[/b]

[img]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/80589065/Random/597px-Ukrayna%28EM%291.jpg[/img]
[i]Romanowan Destroyer Krakovic, renamed to Antoniv, sailing just off shore, circa 1920.[/i][/center]

In late August, after a week and a half of closed door discussions, Romanowan foreign minister Avgust Olegovich Sharapov returned to his home isle with word to the Duke of the Islands, Lukyan IV, with the Osladian offer.  After consideration Duke Lukyan accepted Tsar Anton's offer to once again rejoin the Osladian Empire. Though this technically broke the restrictions put upon the Empire in the Treaty of Parma, few Osladians seemed to hold issue with the Romanowan Islands rejoining the Empire. In return for their loyalty and naval assistance, the Romanow family would keep their titles upon the island and continue to rule as they always have, and very little was expected to truly change in the average Romanowan's life. However, in days immediately following this declaration the streets Sarasov filled with new garrison units shipped in from the mainland of the Empire. In a public declaration the Duke of the Romanows stated that, in the face of Soroyan diplomatic aggression, it is best for the Islands to rejoin the Empire and support Tsar Anton so as to defend the Romanowan way of life. Foreign Minister Sharapov has once again returned to Oslograd and is expected to begin a new position as a diplomat and official with the Office of Foreign Affairs starting in January, 1921. 

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[center][b]The Treaty of Sikea[/b][/center]

Despite apparent transgressions committed by the Empire that violate the Treaty of Parma, Prime Minister Demian Selidov has once again shipped off from Oslograd aboard the Osladian Light Cruiser [i]Cybulka[/i] to attend the signing of the Treaty of Sikea. Before departing the aging Prime Minister stated the following.

[i]"As Oslad once again rises to her feet we must step into the forefront of diplomacy and politics as well. We, like many of those who have suffered losses in the previous years, wish to put the past behind us and enter a new era of peace and stability for the entire continent. Thus, Tsar Anton and the Duma feel it is the duty of our government to sign the Treaty of Sikea with our Soroyan brothers. Both for the good of Oslad, and for all civilized peoples."[/i]

Many political analysts look at the recent decision by the State Duma and the Tsar as a way of saving face to prevent their Parma violation from disgracing them to fellow Centran powers. However it stands regardless, as far as the Empire has shown, they wish to begin anew and will work with their former enemies to ensure the longevity of peace.

-- The Osladian Empire signs the [b]Treaty of Sikea[/b]

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[center][b]A Royal Heir & The Duma[/b][/center]

With the Tsar's 31st birthday approaching in July gossip has risen involving the lack of an Imperial heir. If, for whatever reason, the Tsar does not produce a son - or daughter- the heir apparent would fall to the Tsar's uncle, Andrev. Some have even speculated the Tsarina to be infertile and thus unable to produce a royal heir. However, as of current there remains no evidence of any rumors.

Court gossip aside, the political landscape of the Osladian Empire continued to face changes as Tsar Anton stepped further and further away from his father's legacy and continued to carve his own policies. With the reintegration of the Romanowan Islands to the Empire the issue of recognition in the Duma came to view. With that came the question 'Is the Duma truly even important'? Discussion within the Imperial Cabinet was a mess at best. The traditionalists still within Tsar Anton's cabinet decried the Duma as simply a branch of legislature to keep the common folk from revolting. While the more libertarian and republicanist elements of the Cabinet pressured the young Tsar to begin integrating the Duma truly as a legislative branch of government and host more free elections. At last in mid September, a decision was made.

Starting in March of the following year a new election for the State Duma would be held and the newly elected officials would work with the Tsar's cabinet to establish a new constitution for the Osladian Empire. While this enraged the truly monarchist elements of the government and some of the nobility, others rejoiced at the liberal decision and the idea of moving forward with a new and modern constitution to fit the era the Empire was now entering. However, in the election only three parties would be allowed into the Duma for the first electoral period. Starting in 1926 parties would be far more open and a more diverse Duma would be permissible. The allowed parties were the liberal opposition named 'The Liberal Democratic Coalition, the conservative & monarchist 'Union', and finally the social democratic 'Agrarian Front'. 

Following these declarations Oslograd was shook by hundreds of protesters from the Iron Hundred. While the protest itself remained peaceful, the Iron Hundred proved to be an annoyance for the general populace of Oslograd as entire streets become impassable as black shirted men and women marched chanting rhetoric calling the Imperial Cabinet corrupt and 'Soroyan bought pig-dogs'. However despite the protest the Tsar remained steadfast in his statement that the Iron Hundred, like the reds, would have to wait until the Duma had been stabilized and prepared for the introduction of more radical elements of Osladian society. Needless to say, the Iron Hundred was not pleased by this.

[center][img]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/80589065/Random/602px-Count_Kokovtsov%27s_speech_in_Duma.jpeg[/img]
[i]The State Duma in Oslograd, circa 1921.[/i][/center]