New Lubenia, officially the Principality of New Lubenia (Wendian: Cuningikija ta Noa Lubenis, Old Prussian: Fiŕstista Nawas Lubēnijan, Latin: Principatus Lubenia Nova), is a micronation in Oceania on the supposed (?) reefs Maria Theresa (Tabor), Jupiter and Ernest Legouve in the South Pacific, with the Territorial Zone in Eastern Europe and Antarctica. Formally it is overseas of Lubenia - a fictional enemy of the Russian military exercise Zapad (West) 2017, which, together with the Republic of Veyshnoria, went from a humorous meme to an organized micronation. The Principality is a territorial mode of existence of Lubenia, but officially declares its attitude towards Lubenia as a metropolis.
The name "Lubenia" comes from the ethnonym lubenis, reflected in the Old Prussian name Lubene, the names of the Latvian lake Lubāns, the Prussian river Lubano, the Polish villages Lubenia and Lubienia. It is also related, on the one hand, to the Serbian lobanja, the Czech lebka 'skull', on the other - to the Lithuanian lubos 'ceiling', the Old Prussian lubā 'board in the ceiling'. Thus, it is interpreted as a "High place", and in the Christian era acquires additional significance - "Calvary". Hence the names w:Lublin, w:Lubny and w:Lubyanka.
History
Background
In 1982, an informal group of teenagers in Soviet Ukraine formed the Knightly Order of Acerini (Russian: Cherenosci), which, in particular, proclaimed the islands Maria Theresa (Tabor) and Ernest Legouve (known from the Jules Verne's novels In Search of the Castaways and The Mysterious Island) as the Order's possessions. At that time, the reefs, discovered in the 19th century, were still considered real, although several expeditions to find them were unsuccessful.
The future founder of New Lubenia held the position of the Supreme Judge in the Order, and during its actual collapse and defunction he was, according to its Charter, the Keeper of Traditions, ensuring the continuity of its legal existence.
Zapad 2017 was a joint strategic military exercise of the Union State of Russia and Belarus held 14–20 September 2017, in Belarus as well as in Russia′s Kaliningrad Oblast (East Prussia). According to the scenario, a conflict between "The North" (the Union State) and "The West" (a coalition of three aggressor states: Veyshnoria, Vesbaria and Lubenia) developed. "The West" tries to split the union of Belarus and Russia, worsen the socio-economic situation in the Union State, and force a change of leadership, and Veyshnoria is trying to annex parts of Belarus.
Lubenia Government's Twitter request for diplomatic relations
The creation quickly found a humorous response in social media. On 30 August 2017, a satirical Twitter account of the Foreign Ministry of Veyshnoria appeared, which published political statements on behalf of the state. In two days, users of social networks created the coat of arms and flag of the new nation (as well as the flags of Lubenia and Vesbaria), scores related memes, and thousands of signatures for obtaining Veyshnorian citizenship were left on the newly created website of the Electronic Consulate of Veyshnoria. At the same time the Foreign Ministry of Veyshnoria retweeted a request from Gdańsk (Poland; according to the map of Zapad-2017 - the territory of Lubenia) on the establishment of diplomatic relations between Lubenia and Veyshnoria, which meant a positive answer.
Months later, the website of the Electronic Consulate with signatures for citizenship became a platform of the non-territorial internet-based micronation the Republic of Veyshnoria. All those who left their signatures became residents of the nation, and to obtain its citizenship, one need to purchase physical ID cards, the holders of which are able to elect and be elected to the highest legislative body - Soim. Since 2018, its parliamentarians have adopted the Constitution, basic laws, and formed ministries.
The renewed Ministry of Foreign Affairs inherited the established relationship with Lubenia, but during of the hybrid war with Russia and Belarus the contact Twitter account was deleted. Keeper of Traditions of the former Order of Acerini Oleh Doroshenko (in New Lubenia will be known as Thed Helgi), deputy of the Soim, the MFA employee, and later Minister of Culture, Education and Science, initiated the creation of the Lubenian Cultural Centre in the Republic of Veyshnoria, later reorganised into the Diplomatic Representation, which actually became the government of Lubenia in exile. Thus, Lubenia functioned and developed for about two and a half years under the jurisdiction of Veyshnoria. During this time its concept was formed as a nation of Western Baltic culture and Balto-Slavic historical modeling.
Foundation of New Lubenia
The non-territoriality of both Veyshnoria and Lubenia put them outside the sphere of interests of the classical secessionist micronations. Therefore, the old claims of the Knightly Order of Acerini became the basis for the quasi-territorial representation of Lubenia. Although those reefs are now considered phantom reefs, they continue to be depicted on some maps, but no state has made claims on them.
On 1 July 2020 Ukrainian micronation Freetown New Kodak (since 2010) proclaimed reefs Maria Theresa (Tabor), Jupiter and Ernest Legouve as its overseas possessions, leaving them under the control of the Order of Acerini, thus renewing its subjectivity. An hour later, the Order, represented by the Keeper of Traditions, declared its sovereignty over them and dissolved itself, passing the Declaration of Independence to the newly created Principality as its successor. The Keeper of Traditions became Governor-General and Locum Tenens of the Princely throne.
As the archipelago of New Lubenia does not have a permanent population, the previous principle of the Order was preserved, according to which residency (formerly - membership in the Order) is awarded by the Resident Medal, and citizenship (participation in legislation) - admission to the Order of the Legion of Honor of Lubenia.
Administrative divisions
The Principality is divided into the following cities, whose population is formed by the sphere of employment of residents:
Public authorities and national-administrative institutions, the place of the Order of the Blooming Orchid, modeling of Far Eastern culture and politics
Each city can have a distributed suburban area, consisting of settlements and uninhabited areas without geographical restrictions. Settlements have autonomous management, territories without a permanent population are considered as exclaves of the city. The suburban area of Jupiter includes all diplomatic missions of New Lubenia in other countries.
Also, settlements and uninhabited settlements of suburban areas of different cities, which are adjacent or territorially close, can form micro-agglomerations on the basis of stable economic and social ties between residents. Microagglomerations are geographical but not administrative entities. Currently, there are such microagglomerations:
Knipaw (Wendian: Cnipu, form. Immanuel Kant Island, form. Central island, form. Kneiphof) - originally an uninhabited exclave of Jupiter in Europe, an island on the Pregolya River, together with the Cathedral on its territory, which is claimed by its interfaith community under the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of Tabor. The former historical part of Königsberg. On August 19, 2020, on the feast of the Transfiguration of Christ according to the Julian calendar, Knipaw was declared the administrative European manifestation of Jupiter, at the same time the entire territory of the island was included in the suburban area of Tabor as a historical Prussian land for the revival of an authentic culture.
Urmis Acmin (Red Stone, Ukrainian: Червоний Камінь) - the Consulate of New Lubenia in the Freetown New Kodak (a suburb of Jupiter by status), together with the chapel of the Ecumenical Order of Calvary Sorrow, located on its territory, which, having received the status of a prince's spiritual compound (as a place of daily prayer of the Locum Tenens), entered the suburban area of Tabor.
Donetś (Wendian: Danoicis) - unification of the diplomatic territory of the Consulate of the Principality in Ukraine (suburban area of Jupiter) with the unpopulated exclaves of Nautilus and Tabor on the territory of Kharkiv. Includes areas of archaeological and ecological reserves and places of historical importance for members of the former order of the Acerini. It also marks the territorial projections of the possessions of the nobility and peerage of New Lubenia, which are alienated from the territory of Nautilus, but remain in the Donets'.
North Arkelia - uninhabited mainland of Ross Icebergs City on the western coast of the Ross Sea on the border with the ice shelf. It borders on the western possessions of the Missionary Order of the Celtic Cross in the north and partially claims the territory of Arcelia Subsidium. Serves as a Princely residence in Antarctica, thus forming a microagglomeration of the suburban areas of Ross Icebergs City and Tabor. On 1 December 2021, the territory was transferred under the general control of the members of the Commonwealth of South Pacifis, but remains a microagglomeration of New Lubenia and part of its Territorial Zone.
Gracovia (Wendian: Hracu, Polish: Graków, Ukrainian: Граків) - unification of the diplomatic territory of the Consulate of New Lubenia in the city of Krakow (suburbia of Jupiter) and transferred under its supervision objects of historical and cultural heritage of Lubenia in modern Poland (temporary suburbia of Tabor): cities of Gduńsk and Lithostok, Gmina Lubenia, microconurbation of Lubienia.
Belmont - part of the Ross Ice Shelf north of Roosevelt Island transferred from the Commonwealth of South Pacifis. It was included in the suburban area of the adjoining Ross Icebergs, and subsequently received the status of the Antarctic representation of Jupiter, thus becoming a microagglomeration of the suburbs of these two cities. The name refers to the small island near the New York "namesake" of Roosevelt Island, which in 1972-2004 served as the site of several micronational performances through the windows of the UN Headquarters.
Emerald (unofficially also Emerald City) is a supposed (?) subantarctic island, discovered in 1821. It is under the common administration of the cities of Nimrod and Ross Icebergs, whose mayors are automatically considered its residents. Thus, Emerald is formally a populated microagglomeration, but, unlike the rest of the microagglomerations of New Lubenia, it is not included in the Territorial Zone, since it is located on a land area that is now considered phantom by official geography.
Hradiště is a microagglomeration on the site of the Czech town of Tábor, transferred to the Principality in exchange for territorial claims in the Královec Region, which during the Russian-Ukrainian war was taken under control by the troops of the territorial defense of Knipaw. Kotnov Tower and Bechyňská Gate constitute the suburban area of Nimrod, the rest of the territory is a suburb of Tabor.
Bila Veža (Ukrainian: Біла Вежа 'White Tower', Wendian: Baltas Turmas, Crimean Tatar: Aq Qulle, Dutch: Witte Toren) is a diplomatic mission opened on the island of Cronenwett at the request of the Republic of Dadizele to mediate its territorial disputes. Its official representation is a suburb of Jupiter, territorially located relatively close to the Ross Icebergs, just as the territorial projection of the microagglomeration Emerald is also a suburb of Nimrod.
several potential microagglomerations that have not received official status, names and symbols.
On August 24, 2020 with the aim of full-fledged international interaction with secessionist micronations (in particular, compliance with the AMU Charter), the Principality forms the Territorial Zone of representation of New Lubenia, which includes only generally recognized geographically undoubted and non-ephemeral territories. It automatically includes all officially registered microagglomerations. The capital manifestation for the Territorial Zone is Knipaw.
Politics and government
Sovereign Prince's Standard
The principality of New Lubenia is characterized by a flexible political system that adapts to the real state of national life in its organic development. The position of the Prince is mainly ceremonial, but in the event of a political crisis, he receives a temporary imperium to rule, using which he is obliged to restore the full functioning of state and government structures. If he does not cope with this task, he automatically loses the throne, and the imperium, along with the position of Princely vicar (Locum Tenens), passes to another statesman in the manner prescribed by law. If the list is exhausted and the Principality officially becomes non-functional, three members of the Order of the Legion of Honor of Lubenia in the rank of commander and above have the authority to restore it.
From 1 to 7 January 2021, the General Election of the Prince was announced, but since no candidates other than the Locum Tenens were nominated, the Minor Legislature, according to the provisions of the General Referendums, recognized His Excellency as elected Prince, whose coronation took place 6 January.
Legislature
The state life of the Principality is based on the principle of direct democracy, but since the status of a resident, and then citizen status are given only for specific services to Lubenia, we can talk about a meritocratic element in it.
The main form of lawmaking in the Principality is General Referendums held on the Internet on a platform selected and prepared by the Cabinet. There is also a Central Council (a.k.a Minor Legislature), which organizes and insures the work of General Referendums and in some situations interacts with them on a quasi-bicameral basis.
Both citizens and the Central Council can submit bills to a referendum. Citizens submit them on the principle of petitions, which must gain the support of at least 5% of the votes of the citizens of the Principality, and the Central Council for the same month must analyse it for constitutionality and in case of obstacles removed from consideration with a mandatory exhaustive list of comments . No more than four unconsidered bills from citizens can be registered at the same time, and a citizen whose bill remains pending or voting cannot submit another at this time. In the queue for voting, bills from citizens have priority over bills from the Central Council.
The Minor Legislature Emblem, from 9.01.2021 - version of the middle coat of arms of New Lubenia for the Central Council
A referendum is considered to have taken place if at least 33% of citizens took part in it, and a bill is accepted if it receives more votes "for" than "against" (no other options). If more than 50% of the votes "for" of the total number of citizens are received, it automatically enters into force, otherwise it is put into effect by the signature of the Prince. If less than 33% of citizens took part in the referendum on the Central Council bill, it is automatically submitted to the Central Council for voting as the representative legislative body.
Two Representatives from each city are delegated to the Central Council according to the rating from their citizens, for two years of personal term, with the possibility of early recall by the electorate after the first year. Representatives elect from themselves the Chancellor for two years with the necessary extension of the representative term.
Issues related to changes in constitutional norms may be put to a referendum only by the Central Council with at least 75% of the votes, pre-ratified by the Prince and accepted no less than 67% of the total number of votes. In this case, the Prince may postpone their entry into force for up to 9 months, which he was given three days after the announcement of the results, after which they otherwise automatically take effect.
Executive
The Cabinet is formed by the Prince and the Central Council by consensus or vote on each position, and the approval of the candidacy requires the consent of both the Prince and the majority of votes of the Central Council that participated in the vote on this issue. Formally, the executive power is headed by the Prince, practical issues of coordination and management are handled by the Deputy Prime Minister, who is appointed by him from among the ministers on a rotating basis for three months outside his profile duties.
From among the current Representatives of the Central Council may be appointed acting ministers for a month, after which, if approved by the ministers on a permanent basis, they leave a representative mandate. An acting prime minister may not be appointed by the Deputy Prime Minister. The incumbent minister may not be elected to the Central Council.
Foreign relations and politics
Micronational wars are prohibited by constitutional principles of the Principality. Its political doctrine presupposes the solution of all controversial issues by political means, not allowing it to turn even into a hybrid war. The Principality of New Luenia is a member of Union Against Micronational War, a cosignatory of Montediszamble Convention and cofounder of Oceanic-Antarctic Micronational Commonwealth.
Formal relations and treaties signed
The Principality of New Lubenia currently maintains formal diplomatic and bilateral relations with:
Areas of influence of the Principality and the signatories of the Treaty of Osokorky
On September 23, 2020, during the revision of the statute of the Order of the Blooming Orchid, the sphere of its organic distribution was determined, which also became the sphere of influence of the Principality. It covers states whose territories were wholly or partly part of the Japanese Empire, its satellites, colonies and occupied countries as of the summer of 1942. However, due to the unilateral recognition of the Treaty of Osokorky by New Lubenia, with the signatories of which (Karnia-Ruthenia and Pavlov) it is in diplomatic relations, the territories defined by the agreement as the spheres of influence of its signatories (including Karafuto Island and the Kuril Islands) were excluded from the sphere of influence of the Principality.
Also being in diplomatic relations with the members of the AMU, the Principality recognizes the territorial claims of the states belonging to it, and those that they recognize, with the exception of possible claims on the territory of Ross Icebergs City.
Languages
The main official language of the Principality is Wendian - a conlang on a Western Baltic basis (like Prussian and Sudovian) with an Eastern Baltic and Proto-Slavic substratum.
Also, all languages of citizens' communication have official status, but the government does not undertake the obligation to provide translation in all language pairs. Decree № 36/20 of 1 August 2020 prohibits the use of English borrowings in official documents in other languages.
OAMC members
Freetown New Kodak
Republic of Veyshnoria
Karno-Ruthenian Empire
Empire of Pavlov
State of Vishwamitra
Bilhorod People's Republic
Kingdom of Arlandica
Sevastopol People's Republic
Republic of Dadizele
All UN member states except:
Russian Federation - Illegal government since October 1993 (considered as a terrorist organization, decision of the Security Council to liquidate it)
People's Republic of China - Illegal government
North Korea - Illegal government (considered as a terrorist organization)
Republic of Belarus - Illegal government since August 2020
All AMU states, with the possibility of territorial disputes
Vatican City
Sovereign Military Order of Malta
Taiwan
Tibet
Catalonia
Kuban People's Republic, restored 7.11.2017, recognition since 1.12.2020
Ingria, since 7.04.2021
Ural Republic, since 7.04.2021
Rada of the Belarusian Democratic Republic, since 25.05.2021
Idel-Ural Confederation, since 4.03.2022
Chechen Republic of Ichkeria, since 8.03.2022
Azov Federation, since 1.04.2022
Kurśk People's Republic, since 2.04.2022
Starodubian People's Republic, since 12.04.2022
Tahanroh People's Republic, since 18.04.2022
Mountain Republic, since 3.07.2022
Republic of Khalmg, since 12.07.2022
Tver Republic, since 24.07.2022
Republic of Dagestan, since 29.09.2022
East Turkestan, since 6.10.2022
Azawad, since 28.07.2024
Principality of Sealand
Principality of Seborga
Principality of Hutt River, with the territorial continuity of the Prince Leonard Memorial on Jupiter Island (OAMC)
Molossia
Conch Republic
Flandrensis
Royal Republic of Ladonia
Kingdom of Talossa, without the Pengöpäts Territory, since 1.12.2020
Sovereign State of Forvik, since 1.12.2020