Federal Republic of Lostisland

Federal Republic of Lostisland Federale Republiek Lostisland (Dutch) República Federal de Lostisland (Spanish) Federatif Cumhuriyeti Lostisland (Turkish) Федеративная Республика Лостайленд (Russian)
Flag Coat of arms
Motto: In nomine libertatis In the name of liberty
Anthem: National Anthem of Lostisland
Capital	Montediszamble (proposed)
Official languages	Federal: English Regional: Russian, Dutch, Turkish, Spanish
Demonym(s)	Lostislandian (nationality) Lostislandic (adjective)
Government	Federal Republic with direct democracy
• President	Yaroslav Mar
• Prime Minister	Mordechai Moshe Linhart
Legislature	Direct democracy
Establishment	4 April 2013 (as a Federal Republic) 1–4 September 2010 (as a micronation) 2 July 2008 (as a community)
Population
• Census	222
Currency	Lostislandic Real
Time zone	Varies
Website Official website
Preceded by Republic of Lostisland Kingdom of Pavlov
This nation is a member of the UAMW, MCS, and the AMU

Lostisland, officially the Federal Republic of Lostisland (Dutch: Federale Republiek Lostisland; Spanish República Federal de Lostisland; Turkish: Federatif Cumhuriyeti Lostisland; Russian: Федеративная Республика Лостайленд) is a global sovereignty and a cultural and social project resembling a new country based on the ideals of freedom and direct democracy. Unlike many other micronations, Lostisland doesn't claim to be a state, but rather defines herself as a cultural and social project which is sovereign in the sense of "not being subordinate to other entities".

Lostisland was founded in 2008 as a roleplaying game and was reorganized into a non-territorial micronation Republic of Lostisland in September 2010. On 11 March 2011 Lostisland declared symbolic sovereignty over Hunter Island in South Pacific. On 4 April 2013, the Republic of Lostisland and the Kingdom of Pavlov were merged into the Federal Republic of Lostisland, after a referendum with 66.7% support in Lostisland and 83% in Pavlov approved the unification. The Federal Republic of Lostisland is the successor state of both micronations.

In July 2012, the Ministry of Transport of the then Republic of Lostisland arranged a vessel expedition to Hunter Island, which is thought to be the first and only such event happening within the MicroWiki Community and one of the few ones in modern micronational history.

Etymology

The word "Lostisland" is a portmanteu of Lost Island, which, in turn, is the literal translation of Russian "Poteryannyj Ostrov" (Потерянный остров) — the name of the roleplaying game out of which Lostisland evolved. Since the transformation into a new nation project in 2010, the word "Lostisland" has been the name of the project, and is no longer translated to other languages.

Eras

Lostisland as a community has had several incarnations, with the modern Federal Republic of Lostisland being the last of them.

Era			Full Organization Name	Length of Era	Notes	Leaders
	Roleplaying game	2 July 2008 - 1 September 2010	Потерянный Остров (Lost Island)	760 Days	A Russophone roleplaying game about an expedition sent to explore an uninhabited island is created on the domain lostisland.clan.su. Soon after the game founder abandoned the project, Yaroslav Mar becomes the head administrator. Stepan Ignatyev joins in mid-2009, but the game fails to achieve sufficient prominence and a decision is made to transform it into a micronation. Preparation starts in early 2010.	Rolf Diszamble, Yaroslav Mar, Stepan Ignatyev
	The first steps	1 September 2010 - 5 February 2013	Republic of Lostisland	888 Days	The Republic of Lostisland is proclaimed and a constitution is adopted on 1–4 September 2010. Yaroslav Mar and Stepan Ignatyev become Captains Regent (Heads of State). Lostisland starts as a nonterritorial micronation but makes a symbolic claim over Hunter Island in South Pacific on 11 March 2011. A vessel expedition to Hunter Island arranged in July 2012 marked the beginning of Lostisland being seen as a serious project.	Yaroslav Mar, Stepan Ignatyev
	Transfer of Power	5 February 2013 - 4 April 2013		72 Days	Captain Regent Stepan Ignatyev shocks the Lostislandic community on 5 February with an announcement of his resignation. A snap election of Captain Regent is called, veteran Russian micronationalist Dr. Ilya Pakhomov is appointed Acting Captain Regent for a monthly term. Pavlovian leader Denys Tezdzhanenko who recently obtained Lostislandic citizenship is elected the new Captain Regent and proposes the merger of Lostisland and Pavlov into the Federal Republic of Lostisland. After referendums in both micronations approve the merger, the Federal Republic of Lostisland is officially formed on 4 April. Captains Regent Yaroslav Mar and Denys Tezdzhanenko become president and Prime Minister respectively.	Yaroslav Mar, Ilya Pakhomov
	Early Federal Republic and Pavlov Crisis	4 April 2013 - 10 May 2013	Federal Republic of Lostisland	36 Days	The Federal Republic is proclaimed, but tensions within the former Kingdom of Pavlov, now the Federation of Pavlov, remain. A number of citizens refuse to recognize the merger as legitimate and the separatist Republic of Pavlov is formed. On 10 May Denys Tezdzhanenko resigns as Prime Minister and leaves Lostisland; the conflict is solved with the mediation of Daniel Morris and Pavlov nominally reintegrates into Lostisland as the Federation of Belastrova. In accordance with the constitution, Supreme Judge Irina Sopas becomes the new Prime Minister.	Yaroslav Mar, Denys Tezdzhanenko, Daniel Morris, Irina Sopas
	600-Days Era	10 May 2013 - 31 December 2014		600 Days	The political system developed for the merger between Lostisland and Pavlov proves its inefficiency. The Grand National Assembly, envisaged by the 2013 constitution, fails to become a full-fledged legislature. Relations between Yaroslav Mar and Denys Tezdzhanenko, who now heads the Pavlovian Royal House in Exile, gradually improve. The Grand Principality of Pavlov is proclaimed on 14 September 2014 and becomes an associated state of Lostisland. In his New Year speech for 2015, Yaroslav Mar announces a constitutional reform, declares the constitution, and all political parties abolished since 1 January, proclaims himself President for Life, and announces that a new Prime Minister will be elected after a month.	Yaroslav Mar, Irina Sopas
	Tezdzhanenko Era	31 December 2014 – 7 May 2022		2684 Days	The reforms announced in Yaroslav Mar's New Year speech bring stability to Lostisland. Denys Tezdzhanenko, whose Lostislandic citizenship was restored when the Grand Principality of Pavlov became an associated state of Lostisland, submits his candidacy for Prime Minister and wins the election on 4 February 2015. A new Coat of Arms is accepted in April 2015, and an e-gov is launched. Lostisland distances itself from politics, emphasizes its full neutrality towards international conflicts, conducts regular meetings of citizens (reunions), and effectively becomes an international club or lodge more than a typical micronation. Denys Tezdzhanenko is re-elected as Prime Minister in 2018.	Yaroslav Mar, Denys Tezdzhanenko, Maria Ostroukhova, George Oprea, Nazar Chagatay
	Transfer of Power II	7 May 2022 - 2 July 2022		56 Days	Maria Ostroukhova is elected Prime Minister after Tezdzhanenko unexpectedly decides not to seek reelection, and assumes office on 7 May but resigns on 14 May after just 7 days in office. After a small period of uncertainty, the Supreme Court orders to call a snap election and Tezdzhanenko briefly returns to power as Acting Prime Minister. The Chief Rabbi of Lostisland and the Ambassador of Lostisland to Israel Mordechai Moshe Linhart is elected the New Prime Minister, defeating his opponent Kit Llorca.	Yaroslav Mar, Maria Ostroukhova, Denys Tezdzhanenko, George Oprea, Nazar Chagatay
	Current Era	2 July 2022 – Present		870 Days	Mordechai Moshe Linhart assumes office as Prime Minister on 2 July 2022, becoming the first Haredi Jew to become a Head of Government anywhere in the world. With the President, the Prime Minister and the Minister of State Security now living in Israel, Lostisland becomes the flagship Israeli micronation.	Yaroslav Mar, Mordechai Moshe Linhart, George Oprea, Theodor Saradjev, Nazar Chagatay

History

RPG era and the first steps

Captain Regent Stepan Ignatyev signing the first ever certificate of citizenship on 23 October 2010.

The predecessor of Lostisland — a roleplaying game with the same name was founded on 2 July 2008 by a group of Russian students. In September 2010 it was transformed into a micronation and the Republic of Lostisland was officially established, modeled after the Republic of San Marino. The two admins of the game, Yaroslav Mar and Stepan Ignatyev became the Captains Regent (Heads of State) of the newborn nation. On 3 September 2010 the accepted constitution of the Republic of Lostisland was published on the official website. On 23 October 2010, during the celebration of the birthday of Captain Regent Stepan Ignatyev, was signed and stamped with the State Seal the first Certificate of Citizenship.

Symbolic declaration of sovereignty

In March 2011 a veteran Russian micronationalist Dr. Ilya Pakhomov advised Captain Regent Yaroslav Mar to symbolically claim Lostislandic sovereignty over Hunter Island: a remote volcanic islet in South Pacific which had been regarded a disputed territory of France and Vanuatu for several decades. The dispute erupted out of a legal collision over the uncertainty of the island's status, designated on some maps as French, on other maps as British, or not mentioned at all. When in the 1980 the New Hebrides received independence, Hunter Island wasn't transferred to the newly founded Republic of Vanuatu. On 11 March 2011 a symbolic declaration of sovereignty over Hunter Island was signed by the Captains Regent.

Expedition to Hunter Island

Lostislandic Minister of Transport Martin Legof displaying the Lostislandic flag in front of Hunter Island.

In April 2012 a New Zealandic sea captain Martin Legof approached the Captains Regent with a proposal to arrange a vessel expedition to Hunter Island and plant the Lostislandic flag there. After the proposal was accepted, Legof was appointed the Minister of Transport of Lostisland and put in charge of arranging the expedition.

Implementing a project of such magnitude required coordinated efforts of both the Ministry of Transport and the Captains Regent. A highly resistant Lostislandic flag was manufactured in Moscow and shipped to the Ministry's HQ in Auckland (New Zealand), together with a list of citizens that was supposed to be planted on the island in a time capsule. The package was delivered to the Ministry on 2 July 2012, which coincided with the fourth anniversary of the foundation of Lostisland, and the next day a 75-feet yacht Sylfia, commissioned by the Ministry of Transport for the expedition, set sail from the New Zealand harbor of Kerikeri.

On 12 July the yacht approached the island, but severe weather conditions made disembarking impossible. However, a number of photos with Captain Legof holding the Lostislandic flag in front of Hunter Island were taken, and the expedition was viewed by Lostislandic citizens as a huge success.

Resignation of Stepan Ignatyev and the merger with Pavlov

On 5 February 2013 Captain Regent Stepan Ignatyev announced his resignation. Given that Ignatyev had been involved with Lostisland since 2009, the announcement came as a surprise to the Lostislandic community, and no specific reason for the resignation was announced. In accordance with the then Lostislandic constitution, the remaining Captain Regent Yaroslav Mar appointed honorary Lostislandic citizen Dr. Ilya Pakhomov, who had recommended to claim Hunter Island, as Acting Captain Regent for a monthly term. A snap election of Captain Regent was called, and Pavlovian King Denys (Tezdzhanenko), who had recently obtained Lostislandic citizenship, scored a decisive victory. Denys was inaugurated and took the Oath of Office as Captain Regent of the Republic of Lostisland on 7 March.

Denys, who after becoming the Lostislandic Head of State still remained the King of Pavlov, proposed to merge the two projects into one. A referendum on unification took place in both Lostisland and Pavlov, and with the majority of citizens supporting it, the Federal Republic of Lostisland was officially formed on 4 April 2013. In accordance with the provisions of the Treaty of Hunter Island, which outlined the conditions of the merger, the office of Captains Regent was replaced with a President and a Prime Minister, the Republic of Lostisland was abolished, and the Kingdom of Pavlov became the Federation of Pavlov as part of the Federal Republic of Lostisland. The Federal Republic took over the treaties and diplomatic relations of its predecessors, including Pavlov's seat in the Antarctic Micronational Union, which expanded Lostisland's territorial claims to Alexander Island in Antarctica. The title of Prince of Pavlov was created for the former King of the Pavlovians, which to date remains the only Lostislandic noble title and fountain of honor, and is still held by its inaugural owner. All Pavlovian citizens retained their titles of nobility, which effectively turned Lostisland into an aristocratic republic. Former Captains Regent Yaroslav Mar and Denys Tezdzhanenko became president and Prime Minister of the Federal Republic of Lostisland respectively.

Pavlov Crisis

Irina Sopas, the Prime Minister of Lostisland from 10 May 2013 to 31 December 2014.

While the majority of Pavlovians supported the unification, a number of citizens voiced opposition refused to recognize the unification as legitimate and in the beginning of May declared a separatist Republic of Pavlov. On 10 May 2013 internal tensions within Pavlov caused Tezdzhanenko to resign as Prime Minister and call for the independence of Pavlov. In accordance with the Constitution of Lostisland, he was replaced as Prime Minister by the Supreme Judge Irina Sopas.

According to the Treaty of Hunter Island, secession of a founding member of the Federal Republic wasn't possible; an agreement was finally reached with the mediation of Daniel Morris, himself a Pavlovian and a Lostislandic citizen. The rebel Republic of Pavlov was reintegrated as the Federation of Pavlov on the condition of being renamed to Federation of Belastrova and changing flag, while Denys Tezdzhanenko founded the Pavlovian Royal House in Exile with the old Pavlovian national symbols, but dropped the claim to be the legal successor of the historical Kingdom of Pavlov. Daniel Morris became the Governor of the Federation of Belastrova, and the Federal Republic of Lostisland retained its AMU seat.

Rapprochement with Pavlov

Relations between the Federal Republic of Lostisland and the Pavlovian Royal House in Exile, while initially strained, gradually began to warm up by late 2013. On 25 December 2013 Denys Tezdzhanenko founded the Grand Principality of Snežanopol as an Antarctic micronation with claims over Graham Land and Liegé Island and took the regnal name of Prince Deniz I. Though Snežanopol went inactive somewhere in mid-2013, after a series of clandestine talks between President Yaroslav Mar and Prince Deniz, on 14 September 2014 the Grand Principality of Pavlov was officially established as a successor state of Snežanopol. Pavlov's Declaration of Independence included a request to the Federal Republic of Lostisland to accept the Grand Principality as an associated state of Lostisland. Within minutes the Grand Principality of Pavlov was recognized by the Federal Republic of Lostisland. The request to become an associated state of Lostisland was granted on 16 September, when the Treaty of Eternal Friendship and Alliance between the Federal Republic of Lostisland and the Grand Principality of Pavlov was signed by both parties; according to the provisions of the treaty, citizens of Pavlov were granted Lostislandic citizenship, Lostisland undertook to defend Pavlov in case of aggression, the Grand Principality was recognized as the successor in dignity to the Kingdom of Pavlov, while the Federal Republic through its Federation of Belastrova was recognized as the legal successor of the Kingdom of Pavlov.

Constitutional reform and Prime Ministerial election

President Yaroslav Mar signing a decree abolishing the constitution of 2013 and declaring himself the President for Life.

The constitution of 2013 was tailored for the merger with Pavlov; after the Pavlov Crisis erupted and a number of high-ranked former Pavlovian citizens left Lostisland, the political system was no longer representative of Lostislandic realities. Particularly, the Grand National Assembly, envisaged by the constitution, never managed to become a full-fledged legislature and mostly remained inactive; the same applied to minor political parties created after the Federal Republic was formed.

In his New Year speech on 31 December, President Yaroslav Mar announced that starting from 1 January the constitution and all the political parties will be abolished, he himself will become the President for Life and assume full control of the three branches of power till a new founding law comes into force, and that the first in Lostisland's history election of a Prime Minister will take place on 1 February.

With the new treaty between Lostisland and Pavlov, Denys Tezdzhanenko once again became a Lostislandic citizen. Marking his return to Lostislandic politics, he submitted his candidacy for Prime Minister and was declared the winner on 4 February 2015 with 54,5% of the vote.

After his return to power, Tezdzhanenko drafted the new Constitution of the Federal Republic of Lostisland, which was adopted on a referendum on 30 May. The constitution ended a period of legal vacuum in Lostisland and reaffirmed Yaroslav Mar's status as the President for Life, specifying that the first presidential election will take place only after his death or voluntary resignation.

2018 snap election

The new constitution made the Prime Minister of Lostisland an elected position with a 4-year term, scheduling the next election for 2019. However, on 23 March 2018 Denys Tezdzhanenko submitted a resignation letter on behalf of the entire government to President Yaroslav Mar, citing the "failure of even single member of [the government]" to reply to a private notice he had distributed five days ago among government members. The resignation was nominally accepted, with Tezdzhanenko and all government members continuing to serve as Acting Prime Minister and Acting Ministers respectively, till a new Prime Minister is elected. The resignation of Denys Tezdzhanenko was preceded by a controversial interview, in which he called his own government "a group of corrupt elitists" and compared Lostisland to a rat nest which needs to be cleaned out.

The election saw the participation of four candidates: Israeli producer Elisha Mendelson, Lostislandic Ambassador to Austria Dr. Hannes Bald, an Indian diplomat and social activist Dr. Arvind Kumar Sharma (not to be confused with his namesake, member of the Parliament of India, and Denys Tezdzhanenko himself, who stood for re-election despite his earlier resignation.

On 21 April it was announced that for the first time in Lostislandic history, no candidate managed to secure an absolute majority, and the two candidates with most votes — Tezdzhanenko with 40% and Mendelson with 29.1% — will meet in the second round. The election was marred with many Lostislandic citizens in Russia being unable to access the voting portal, as its IP got blocked by the Russian Government amid the attempts to ban Telegram.

On 5 May Denys Tezdzhanenko was announced Prime Minister Elect, beating Elisha Mendelson with 54.8% of the vote. The new cabinet of ministers was assembled on 27 May, with Tezdzhanenko's running mate, a Russian socialite, and opera singer Maria Ostroukhova becoming the Deputy Prime Minister. Denys Tezdzhanenko is expected to serve as Prime Minister until at least 2022 unless he resigns early; the Lostislandic Constitution doesn't limit the number of terms for Prime Minister.

2019 corruption scandal

Prosecutor General Nazar Chagatay announcing the start of a criminal investigation against Prime Minister Denys Tezdzhanenko.

In April 2019 Prime Minister Denys Tezdzhanenko gave an interview to the Lostislandic website, in which he — following the style of his 2018 interview — harshly criticized his own government for corruption. The Prime Minister especially criticized the judicial, saying that he has yet to "see any in positions of top leadership in our Courts or Prosecutors office who are not themselves corrupt to the bone".

The next day after the interview, Prosecutor General Nazar Chagatay himself accused Tezdhzanenko of corruption, vote-rigging and conspiring with a hostile foreign power to secure re-election, and announced the start of a criminal investigation against the Prime Minister.

Prime Minister Tezdzhanenko rejected the accusations, calling it a "public lynching without any form of evidence whatsoever", and called upon the President to intervene. The President didn't intervene in the conflict between the executive and the judiciary branches until May, when the investigation against Tezdzhanenko was re-entrusted to the Federal Intelligence and Security Service (FISS) together with an investigation against the Prosecutor General. As of May 2020, no updates from the FISS have been released.

Meeting with Ambassador Robert Meyer

President Yaroslav Mar and Prosecutor General Nazar Chagatay greeting the Ambassador of Lostisland to the United States in front of the state car.

On 26 May 2019 the Ambassador of Lostisland to the United States Robert Meyer visited Moscow to meet the Lostislandic diaspora, in what was the first time that a Lostislandic citizen from abroad visited Russia. Ambassador Meyer was greeted by President Yaroslav Mar and Prosecutor General Nazar Chagatay as they got out of the state car and proceeded to the meeting hall, where the welcome messages were delivered. Prime Minister Tezdzhanenko, who was unable to attend the reunion, addressed the audience in his video message, where he announced he will not seek another term in 2022.

Ambassador Meyer reassured the audience he had played no role in the Novichok poisoning of Sergei and Yulia Skripal and in the subsequent Amesbury poisoning. The Ambassador confirmed that he had never met Sergei and Yulia Skripal, never exposed them to the Novichok agent and that Lostislandic postage stamps were never used to mail the Novichok from Hunter Island to London.

At the end of the event, the President presented the new citizens of Lostisland with their Certificates of Citizenship, and a traditional heraldic cake with the Coat of Arms of Lostisland was served. The reunion was assisted by prominent Lostislandic officials, among them the Supreme Judge George Oprea, the Minister of Health Dr. Andrej Golubew MD, and former Minister of Economics Viktor Medvedev.

Defenestration of 2020

On 15 September 2020 President Yaroslav Mar announced the recertification of the diplomatic service, citing the necessity to figure out which of the Ambassadors are truly dedicated to Lostisland, and which joined the diplomatic service merely for prestige. All the Ambassadors were given until 20 September to fill in the same application form that is used for prospective diplomats, to make sure they're active and dedicated to Lostisland, with a forewarning that those who don't do so will be dismissed.

The results of the recertification were announced on 23 September: only 7 out of 14 Ambassadors filled in the form. Following the results of the recertification, the President signed a Decree dismissing the Ambassadors to Austria, Brazil and Paraguay, Brazil and Uruguay, Chile, the Dominican Republic, Italy, and Nigeria. The Ambassadors to Andorra, Croatia, India, Malaysia, the Philippines, Russia, and the United States, who did fill in the application, were reconfirmed on their positions.

The term "Defenestration of 2020" was coined by Mart Ian Siapno, the Ambassador to the Philippines who successfully underwent the recertification.

2022 constitutional crisis and transfer of power

Denys Tezdzhanenko's term as Prime Minister was due to end on 7 May 2022. On 7 September 2021 President Yaroslav Mar signed a decree formally triggering Article XLVI of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Lostisland, paving way for the 2022 election of Prime Minister.

Tezdzhanenko had in the past given conflicting statements whether he plans or not to seek another term. In a 2019 speech welcoming Ambassador Rob Meyer to Russia, Tezdzhanenko announced he will not seek another term in 2022. In a 2020 interview he reaffirmed his plans but said he may consider a final term "if the President asks [him] to stay."

On 7 November 2021 Tezdzhanenko formally announced his election bid on a joint ticket with Khvicha Koridze: the founder of Lostisland Philosophy Club and Georgian MMA fighter, widely popular among Russian-speaking Lostislandians. Other candidates included, among others, the then Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Minority Affairs Maria Ostroukhova, who ran without Tezdzhanenko's endorsement, and the Ambassador to the Philippines Kit Llorca running on a joint ticket with the then Ambassador to the Malaysia Rishabh Saxena.

The campaign took an unexpected turn on 18 January 2022 when Tezdzhanenko suddenly dropped out of the race. In a letter sent to President Yaroslav Mar and distributed to the Google Group of citizens, the incumbent Prime Minister said that his recent changes in personal and private life, as well as participation in municipal elections, no longer allow him to dedicate sufficient attention to Lostisland. Due to what he described as the “low quality of candidates,” PM Tezdzhanenko refrained from endorsing another candidate and called upon the President to disestablish the office of Prime Minister altogether as it has “little real added value for Lostisland.” Tezdzhanenko's letter effectively announced his retirement from Lostislandic politics after nearly 8 years in office.

Voting took place from 1 to 7 March 2022, to accommodate for citizens from different regions, and saw Maria Ostroukhova scoring a narrow victory over the Llorca/Saxena ticket, by a margin of one vote. As neither candidate managed to score over 50%, this sent the election to a second round, set to take place on 1–7 April.

On 8 April 2022 Maria Ostroukhova was announced the Prime Minister Elect, having won 55.1% of the vote in the runoff against Llorca/Saxena. The implication of her victory was all the more significant as unlike her opponents, Ostroukhova ran on a wholly tongue-in-cheek platform to "reduce the carbon footprint of the Hunter Island Volcano by 200% by implementing the “cork-and-screw” mechanism produced in Mongolia and making Napoleon Bonaparte an honorary Lostislandic citizen" (even though the granting of honorary citizenship is the prerogative of the President, not the Prime Minister.

Ostroukhova officially assumed office on 7 May 2022, following the expiration of Tezdzhanenko's term. However, after just 8 days in office, Ostroukhova suddenly announced her resignation on 14 May in a never released letter to President Yaroslav Mar, citing personal reasons. Prior to her resignation, Ostroukhova had executed no official duty and nominated no cabinet members except for designating her former opponent Kit Llorca the Deputy Prime Minister, thus prompting speculations whether she was ever the lawful Prime Minister, and whether she should be succeeded by Llorca or a snap election needs to be called. The situation constituted a non liquet in Lostislandic law and created a vacuum of power, prompting President Mar to request the Supreme Court of Lostisland to issue a judicial opinion. The opinion was issued on 16 May 2022 by Praesus of the Supreme Court George Oprea, marking the first time in Lostislandic history that the Supreme Court exercised its authority, and confirmed that despite the shortness of her office, Ostroukhova had been the lawful Prime Minister from 7 to 14 May and that a snap election needs be called.

Politics

Despite its name, modern-day Lostisland doesn't have a federal system of governance; Hunter Island and Alexander Island are nominally considered "Federation of Hunter" and "Federation of Belastrova" respectively, but both claims being symbolic, the division into federations exists only on paper. As both islands are uninhabited, Lostisland doesn't consider its citizens as residents of either federation; the name "Federal Republic" refers to the 2013 merger between the Republic of Lostisland and the Kingdom of Pavlov, which was never carried out as initially planned.

Lostisland is run by a President as Head of State and a Prime Minister as Head of Government and head of the executive; both the President and the Prime Minister are elected for a four-year term; however, according to Article LXXIV of the Constitution, the first presidential election will take place if and when the incumbent President Yaroslav Mar, recognized as the President for Life, leaves office. In effect, this makes Lostisland a de facto constitutional monarchy, albeit a non-hereditary and temporary one.

As a direct democracy, Lostisland doesn't have a legislature; constitutional amendments and laws are voted on universal referendums.

The judicial power is vested in the Praesus of the Supreme Court of Lostisland, commonly referred to as the Supreme Judge of Lostisland.

Government

The Federal Republic of Lostisland doesn't have a specific number of available ministerial portfolios, in accordance with its principle to "find positions for people, not people for positions". In practice, this means that when a citizen knowledgeable in a particular field joins Lostisland, a ministerial position may be created especially for him, and disestablished if they resign or get dismissed. According to the Constitution of Lostisland, the only fixed positions is those of Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister; traditionally the office of Minister of Foreign Affairs is also a fixed one.

As of 2021, the following ministries exist:

• Ministry of Foreign Affairs, responsible for coordination between Lostisland and foreign countries and organizations.
• Ministry of State Security, responsible for the issues of citizenship, prevention, and neutralization of external and internal threats.
• Ministry of Health, responsible for the physical well-being of the Lostislandic citizens.
• Ministry of Minority Affairs, responsible for the protection of minorities.
• Ministry of Innovation, Research and Development, responsible for implementing new projects and innovations (currently vacant).

In addition, Lostisland has three independent agencies which are part of the executive but not part of the Cabinet of Ministers:

• Office of the Prosecutor General, responsible for criminal proceedings and investigations.
• Civil Guard, responsible for the protection of law and order (currently vacant).
• Federal Intelligence and Security Service, responsible for foreign intelligence, security and investigations which are otherwise too sensitive for the Ministry of State Security and the prosecution.

• 
  H.E. Yaroslav Mar:
  President for Life
• 
  Rt. Hon. Mordechai Moshe Linhart:
  Prime Minister
  Chief Rabbi
  Ambassador to Israel
• 
  Hon. Jyoti Sawhney:
  Deputy Prime Minister
• 
  Hon. Ilian Kostov:
  Minister of Foreign Affairs
• 
  Hon. Nazar Chagatay:
  Prosecutor General
• 
  Classified:
  Director-General of the Federal Intelligence and Security Service

Law and order

George Oprea, the Supreme Judge of Lostisland.

The judicial power in Lostisland is nominally vested in the Supreme Court, headed by Praesus of the Supreme Court commonly known as the Supreme Judge of Lostisland. However, due to a low number of crimes committed and the absence of a penal code, this position is mostly nominal. In practice, the only punishments carried out in Lostisland are dismissal (if the person in question was a public servant) and revocation of citizenship by a presidential decree.

The incumbent Supreme Judge of Lostisland George Oprea is known for his close friendship with Prosecutor-General Nazar Chagatay, with whom he plays in the same ensemble. This fact was one of the reasons for 2019 accusations of corruption in the judiciary by Prime Minister Denys Tezdzhanenko.

Lostisland doesn't have a police; the protection of order is under the joint responsibility of the Ministry of State Security, the Civil Guard, and the Federal Intelligence and Security Service.

Foreign relations

Overview

Letter cover sent from FIFA to Lostisland.

Letter cover sent from the Prince of Monaco Albert II to the President of Lostisland Yaroslav Mar.

Letter cover sent from the King of the Netherlands Willem-Alexander to the President of Lostisland Yaroslav Mar.

As the successor of the Republic of Lostisland and the Kingdom of Pavlov, the Federal Republic inherited diplomatic ties of both of them. On 18 November 2014 Lostisland announced a change in foreign policy, according to which it no longer enters formal diplomatic relations with micronations nor extends diplomatic recognition, unless special cases. A notable exception to this practice was the 2020 Treaty on Eternal Friendship and Alliance between the Principality of Montescano and the Federal Republic of Lostisland, signed in light of the strong cultural and historical ties between the two nations.

The change of policy didn't immediately affect the previously signed intermicronational treaties, however most of them were signed for a definite period of time and eventually expired on their own. As a result, since 2014 Lostisland maintains a mostly isolationist policy in regards to other micronations, and "foreign relations" with regards to Lostisland refer mostly to the outreach of Lostislandic ambassadors.

Lostisland isn't currently recognized, whether as a state or as an organization, by any UN member state, but enjoys recognition from the World Humanity Commission and the World Fund for Development and Planning. Lostisland received de facto recognition of sorts from FIFA, and President Yaroslav Mar was styled as "His Excellency" in letters from Albert II, Prince of Monaco, and Willem-Alexander, King of the Netherlands.

Lostisland is a member state of the Union Against Micronational War, the Micronational Cartography Society, the Antarctic Micronational Union, of which President Yaroslav Mar is the Administrative-General, and an original signatory of the Montediszamble Convention, also authored by President Yaroslav Mar and named after Lostisland's proposed capital, itself named after the semi-legendary founder of Lostisland Rolf Diszamble.

Diplomatic service

The interior of the Lostislandic Embassy in New Delhi (India).

Lostisland maintains an extensive network of ambassadors, whose primary responsibilities include coordinating Lostislandic activities in their country and recruiting new citizens. Typically one ambassador per country is appointed: however, from 2015 to 2020 Lostisland appointed two ambassadors to Brazil, whose area of responsibility also included neighboring Paraguay and Uruguay.

• 
  H.E. Leigh Singleton:
  Ambassador to Australia
• 
  H.E. Ivan Buljević:
  Ambassador to Croatia
• 
  H.E. Jyoti Sawhney:
  Ambassador to India
• 
  H.E. Mordechai Linhart:
  Ambassador to Israel
• 
  H.E. Swan Aung:
  Ambassador to Myanmar
• 
  H.E. Kit Llorca:
  Ambassador to the Philippines
• 
  H.E. Dr. Andrej Golubew MD:
  Ambassador to Russia
• 
  H.E. Robert Meyer:
  Ambassador to the United States

Recognized nations

Nations which are in a state of alliance with Lostisland

• Empire of Pavlov, since 20 January 2020 (originally signed with the Principality of Montescano)

Nations with which Lostisland has signed a treaty of mutual recognition or exchanged acts of recognition

The following list does not include defunct nations, nations with which a treaty was terminated, nor nations with which a treaty was signed for a finite period of time and not renewed upon expiration.

• Aerican Empire, since 27 September 2010
• Free Republic of Alcatraz, since 25 October 2010
• Promolands Micronation, since 15 February 2011
• United Territories of Sky Haven, since 21 May 2011
• Republic of Pannonia, since 27 December 2011
• Sovereign Military Roman Hadrian Order, since 23 February 2012
• Republic of Padrhom, since 18 May 2012
• Empire of Gordjan, since 12 June 2012
• Kingdom of Überstadt, since 13 June 2012
• Federal Commonwealth of Sirocco, since 16 August 2012
• Kingdom of Juclandia, since 8 August 2013
• Republic of Užupis, since 13 April 2014

Nations which are in a state of mutual recognition with Lostisland by virtue of membership in the Antarctic Micronational Union

• All member states of the Antarctic Micronational Union, since 4 April 2013

Nations which are unilaterally recognized by Lostisland

• All member states of the United Nations, since 1 September 2010
•  Sovereign Military Order of Malta, since 1 September 2020
•  Vatican City State, since 1 September 2010

IGOs and NGOs with which Lostisland has signed treaties

• World Humanity Commission, since 4 January 2015
• World Fund for Development and Planning, since 31 August 2023

Table of Ranks

Lostisland maintains a list of government, military and court ranks and positions called Table of Ranks, based off the eponymous list that existed in the Imperial Russia. The Table of Ranks was adopted by a Presidential Decree on 20 March 2015.

Class	Civil Ranks	Military Ranks
1	Actual Privy Councillor (highest civil ministerial rank)	General Field Marshal (Army) General Field Marshal (Navy) (highest military ranks, assigned for special merits and for seniority)
2	Civil Secretary, State Councillor (main civil ministerial rank)	Ober Commissary (Army) Captain at Sea (Navy) (main military ministerial rank, corresponds the offices of Minister of Defense, Director-General of the Civil Guard, Commander of the Navy; assigned for special merits)
3	Actual Civil Councillor (civil ministerial rank, corresponds the offices of minister and deputy minister of civilian departments)	Brigade Commissary (Army) Frigate Captain (Navy) (military ministerial rank recommended for primary assignment, corresponds the offices of minister and deputy minister of power departments)
4	Civil Councillor (civil rank of an advisor to minister and ministry official, ambassador, consul, local judge)	Chamber Junker (Army) Senior Midshipmen (Navy) (military rank, assigned to adjutants of power department ministers, military specialists and commanders of territorial subdivisions of special services and the Navy)
5	College Secretary (civil rank of an assistant to ambassador, consul)	Junker (Army) Midshipmen (Navy) (initial military rank of citizens beginning a professional military career)

Military ranks of Private (Army) and Seaman (Navy) are not part of the Table of Ranks.

Demographics

Lostisland maintains an open citizenship policy and unlike secessionist territorial micronations, such as Austenasia, doesn't require to physically reside on claimed land in order to become a citizen. Individuals interested in joining Lostisland may apply for citizenship via Citizenship Application Form. Citizens of Pavlov may apply through a simplified procedure. All prospective citizens undergo a background check by the Federal Intelligence and Security Service and must be at least 16 years of age. Citizens and residents of Pakistan are banned from obtaining Lostislandic citizenship.

Population

As of November 2023, Lostisland has a population of 222 citizens hailing from all continents except Antarctica. The largest Lostislandic diasporas are found in India, Italy, and Russia.

Map of countries where Lostislandic citizens reside.

Country	No. of citizens
India	53
Italy	23
Russia	19
United States	15
Israel	9
United Kingdom	9
Bangladesh	6
Australia	5
Germany	5
Nigeria	5
South Africa	5
China	4
France	4
Ukraine	4
Canada	3
Malaysia	3
Spain	3
Afghanistan	2
Greece	2
Morocco	2
Nepal	2
Portugal	2
Sweden	2
Austria	1
Brazil	1
Cameroon	1
Chile	1
Colombia	1
Costa Rica	1
Cyprus	1
Denmark	1
DRC	1
Estonia	1
Ethiopia	1
Georgia	1
Ghana	1
Hong Kong	1
Iraq	1
Ireland	1
Kazakhstan	1
Kenya	1
Latvia	1
Malta	1
Mexico	1
Myanmar	1
Netherlands	1
New Zealand	1
North Macedonia	1
Norway	1
Pakistan	1
Philippines	1
Poland	1
Romania	1
Switzerland	1
Taiwan	1
Turkey	1
Vietnam	1

Languages

Lostisland is characterized by linguistic diversity and the absence of a majority language: English, the official language of Lostisland, serves as lingua franca and is only native for about 18% of the Lostislandic population. The status of English in Lostisland is similar to English in India and the European Union. Russian, while having a larger number of native speakers (around 20%), generally isn't spoken by non-Russian Lostislandians.

Despite being founded by Russian speakers, since its transition to a micronation in 2010 Lostisland has been primarily targeting Anglophone audience and maintaining an English web presence. As a result, the Russophone community in Lostisland began losing its dominance around 2012 as non-Russian citizens joined the project and influenced the demographics. This led to antagonization between the Russian elites of Lostisland (commonly referred to as "Old Lostisland") and the non-Russophone newcomers.

The antagonization reached its zenith in early 2013 after the resignation of Captain Regent Stepan Ignatyev when then-Supreme Judge of Lostisland Roman Petrov ran for Captain Regent on a platform of declaring Russian the only official language of Lostisland. However, these plans were buried after the victory of his opponent Denys Tezdzhanenko.

After the 2013 unification with Pavlov and the formation of a Federal Republic, English was proclaimed the only official language of Lostisland, while Russian received the status of regional language, alongside Dutch and Turkish (the dominant languages of former Pavlovian citizens). In 2014 the status of regional language was additionally granted to Spanish.

Language remains a polemical subject in Lostisland, and Russophone Lostislandians have been repeatedly calling for a Russian version of the official website of Lostisland. The government has been continuously rejecting these requests, citing that Russian is a regional language, and should a Russian version be created, Dutch, Turkish and Spanish versions also become necessary. However, since 2015 Lostisland has been maintaining a Russophone VK page and providing translations to Russian for important updates.

Russophone Lostislandians maintain disproportionate representation among senior Lostislandic officials, as all government members are either native speakers of Russian or speak it fluently as a foreign language. Supreme Judge George Oprea is bilingual in Romanian and Russian.

Since 2013 Russian-speaking and Russian Lostislandians no longer constitute a majority, but still maintain a plurality. The political longevity of Denys Tezdzhanenko, who belongs to the Dutch community but fluently speaks Russian and is well-versed in Russian culture, might be explained by his informal status as the guarantor of linguistical status quo, serving as a bridge between Russophone and non-Russophone Lostislandians.

Economy

Lostislandic chocolate, available for purchase from the Lostislandic online store.

Lostisland doesn't collect taxes nor membership fees, and obtaining Lostislandic citizenship is free. Plastic identity cards and certificates of citizenship are available on the Lostislandic online store for those who want to obtain physical evidence of their Lostislandic citizenship, alongside souvenirs with the Lostislandic national symbols. Citizens and foreign supporters who want to help the organization grow are welcome to make voluntary donations in exchange of rewards.

American radio journalist Neal Conan has called Lostisland "a quixotic effort to establish a tax-free libertarian haven". This claim is rejected by Lostisland, due to the fact that it's not possible to incorporate a company in Lostisland nor open a bank account. The two companies associated with Lostisland, which can be considered the primary contributors to the Lostislandic economy – Lostisland Post and MicroFlag – operate according to Russian laws.

In 2017 Lostisland launched a chocolate production and offers its chocolate for sale through the online store.

It is believed that Lostisland is financed through a combination of voluntary donations, profits from Lostisland Post and MicroFlag, and sales from the online store. The organization doesn't disclose any financial information, nor is its annual budget known to the public.

Lostisland Post

Genghis Khan stamp issued by Lostisland Post in 2017, credited with attracting international interest to Lostislandic stamps.

Lostisland Post was founded in May 2012 as a national postal operator of the then Republic of Lostisland, when it issued the first-ever cinderella stamps of Lostisland. As of 2020, Lostisland Post issued a total of 30 stamp series, making it one of the largest micronational posts, and new series are issued each year.

Traditionally Lostisland Post issues stamps to commemorate the anniversaries of prominent historical figures, and since 2017 stamps with the portrait of President Yaroslav Mar are issued each year. Lostisland Post gained international prominence in 2018 when an online newspaper Asia Russia Daily published an article about its Genghis Khan stamp. This led to an increased interest in Lostisland in Mongolia.

Lostislandic postage stamps are available for purchase from the Lostislandic online store, save a few historical ones which are out of stock.

MicroFlag

MicroFlag-made flag of the Grand Republic of Delvera, measuring 5x10ft and believed to be the largest micronational flag ever made.

MicroFlag was founded in May 2014 and credits itself as the "first lowcost flag supplier". Operating in partnership with Russian textile typographies, MicroFlag is able to offer prices which are reasonably lower than of American and European competitors.

Since its foundation, MicroFlag became the primary choice of micronationalists seeking to get a custom flag made: MicroFlag customers include Adammia, Atlantium, Austenasia, Flandrensis, Dracul, Hortania, Ladonia, Pavlov, Senya and Sirocco, among others, in addition to Lostisland itself.

MicroFlag is a longtime partner of Westarctica, having supplied >300 Westarctican flags over years. In 2019 a MicroFlag-made flag of Westarctica was carried on a plane flying over Antarctica, thereby turning MicroFlag into one of the few companies whose products are present on all continents including Antarctica.

In 2018 MicroFlag supplied a 5x10 ft flag for the Republic of Delvera, believed to be the largest micronational flag ever made.

Culture

Unlike some other micronations, such as Sirocco or Montescano, Lostisland was never intended to be a themed micronation and isn't explicitly modeled after an existing country or a time period. Lostisland in 2010-2013 was mostly reminiscent of San Marino, which could be seen by the rarely used Head of State title of Captain Regent. After the 2013 transition to a Federal Republic and the influx of Turkophone members who had been Pavlovian subjects, Lostisland adopted elements of Turkish culture, as seen from the proposed name for a legislature: the Grand National Assembly. Turkish still remains one of the recognized regional languages in Lostisland.

The so-called "Anti-Corruption Envelope" is a classical example of Lostislandism. The text on the envelope suggests that by using it, the giver confirms that the money inside it isn't a bribe, and therefore no crime is committed.

The contemporary Lostislandic cultural identity began forming around 2015, and could be described as a mix of the idealization of democracy and the exploitation of typical Banana republic and conspiracy cliches: the title of President for Life, the prevalence of military uniforms, the adoption of stereotypically Freemasonic elements such as the Eye of Providence on the Coat of Arms, and common jokes about dictatorship and corruption by senior Lostislandic government members. This seemingly controversial combination can be illustrated with so-called Lostislandisms: absurdist traditions, cultural artifacts, or memes that are characteristical of Lostisland. Most famous Lostislandisms include the following:

• "Anti-Corruption Envelopes" released in 2019;
• The practice of depicting controversial historical figures on postage stamps, such as Genghis Khan, Pope Alexander VI or Juan Peron, alongside the sitting President Yaroslav Mar;
• Prime Minister Denys Tezdzhanenko accusing his own government of corruption and seeking reelection with a promise to "clean out the rat nest", even though it was no other than himself who had served as the Head of Government for the last three years.

The following quotes by senior Lostislandic officials can also be considered Lostislandisms:

As the President for Life, I'll never allow for Lostisland to slide into a dictatorship.

— President Yaroslav Mar

I don’t believe that we should worship democracy and the rule of law as some sacred cow. Throughout my entire political career in Lostisland, not only I haven’t kept a single electoral promise, but I made it a central part of my program explicitly stating that neither I will keep any promise in the future. But I still got elected and re-elected, and if I resign tomorrow and run for PM again, I’ll still win. What is this if not clear evidence that democracy is useless?

— Prime Minister Denys Tezdzhanenko

I find myself even today continually stating to the press that neither I nor any officials of Lostisland have played a role in the Novichok poisoning of Sergei and Yulia Skripal in Salisbury, England last year. I have never met Sergei and Yulia Skripal and I most certainly did not expose them to Novichok nerve agent. And I definitely was not involved in the similar poisoning a few weeks later in Amesbury. And finally, Lostislandic postage stamps were not used to mail the Novichok from Hunter Island to London. That "evidence" was planted.

— Robert Meyer, Ambassador of Lostisland to the United States

Meetings of citizens play an important role in Lostislandic culture.

Freelance journalist and contributor to Vanuatu Daily Post Colin Cortbus suggested that Lostisland might be "a[n] absurdist satire of contemporary Russian society"; Lostisland's website openly admits that much of what can be seen on it is intended to be humorous or satirical, but maintains that Lostisland itself is "neither a game nor a satire".

Cake served during the meeting with the Lostislandic Ambassador to the US Robert Meyer.

Lostislandic culture values face-to-face interaction and puts special importance to meetings of citizens, called "reunions". Such meetings are usually attended by the President and senior officials in full uniforms, and traditionally a cake with the Coat of Arms if Lostisland is served at the end of the meeting. In May 2019 a meeting of citizens with Rob Meyer, the Lostislandic Ambassador to the United States, took place in Moscow, making it the first time that a Lostislandic citizen from abroad travels to Russia to participate in a reunion.

Lostisland is among the few micronations with a National Anthem that was specially composed, rather than adopted. The National Anthem of Lostisland was composed in 2009 by would-be Captain Regent Stepan Ignatyev in preparation for the declaration of independence.

Awards

Order of the White Pigeon, the highest and only award of the Federal Republic of Lostisland.

Lostisland is known for its stinginess when it comes to issuing awards. The Order of the White Pigeon — Lostisland's highest and only national awarded, created in 2015 — has never been awarded to anyone, and the only members of the order are its co-Grand Masters: President Yaroslav Mar and Prime Minister Denys Tezdzhanenko.

Theoretically, Lostisland has the institute of honorary citizenship, but the only two individuals who received it were Solomon Fyrst of the Slinky Empire in 2010, and Giovanni I of the Sovereign Military Roman Hadrian Order in 2012.

According to the provisions of the treaty between Lostisland and Montescano (now Pavlov), government officials of Lostisland may receive for Pavlovian nobility. In practice, this means that the Pavlovian nobility is partially integrated into the Lostislandic awards system.

National Holidays

The national holidays of Lostisland commemorate the important dates of Lostislandic history, as well as some international dates. Religious holidays are notably absent from the list, to stipulate the religious impartiality of Lostisland.

Date	English Name	Dutch Name	Turkish Name	Russian Name	Remarks
1 January	New Year's Day	Nieuwjaars dag	Yılbaşı	Новый Год
17 January	Economy Day	Dag van de economie	Ekonomi Günü	День экономики	In honor of the Ministry of Economy of Lostisland (anniversary of foundation)
11 March	Acquisition Day	Dag van de verwerving	Edinimi Gün	День Обретения	Anniversation of the declaration of sovereignty over Hunter Island (acquisition of territory)
5 April	Birthday of the Prime Minister's cat	Verjaardag van de Premier's kat	Başbakan'ın kedi Günü	День Рождения кота Премьер-министра	Birthday of Pamuk, cat of Denys Tezdzhanenko, the Prime Minister of the Federal Republic
22 April	President's Birthday	Verjaardag van de President	Başkan Doğum Günü	День Рождения Президента	Birthday of Yaroslav Mar, the President of the Federal Republic
6 May	Birthday of the Presidential Cat	Verjaardag van de President's kat	Cumhurbaşkanlığı Kedi Günü	День Рождения президентского кота	Birthday of Sigismund Knushevitzky, the cat of the President of the Federal Republic
8 May	Victory Day	Dag van de overwinning	Zafer Bayramı	День Победы	Anniversary of victory of the Nazi Germany
2 July	Day of Lostisland	Dag van Lostisland	Lostisland Günü	День Лостайленда	Anniversary of the foundation of Lostisland
1—4 September	Days of Independence	Vrijheid's dagen	Bağımsızlık Gün	Дни Независимости	Anniversaries of the step-by-step proclamation of the Lostislandic sovereignty
17 October	Birthday of the Prime Minister	Verjaardag van de Premier	Başbakan Doğum Günü	День Рождения Премьер-министра	Birthday of Denys Tezdzhanenko, the Prime Minister of the Federal Republic
29 October	Day of the MFA workers	Dag ter ere van de medewerkers van Buitenlandse zaken	Dışişleri personeli onuruna Günü	День работников МИД	In honor of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lostisland (anniversary of foundation)
5 December	Day of the media workers	Dag ter ere van de medewerkers van de media	Medya çalışanlarının Günü	День работников прессы	In honor of the Lostislandic media)
15 December	Police Day	Dag ter ere van de politie	Polis Günü	День полиции	In honor of the Ministry of Home Affairs of Lostisland (anniversary of foundation)
22 December	Day of Defense	Dag ter ere van defensie	Savunma Günü	День обороны	In honor of the Ministry of Defense of Lostisland (anniversary of foundation)

See also

• Yaroslav Mar
• Denys Tezdzhanenko