Hobrazia

[Pragma]

Approaching the century in an uncertain Deltaria.

Who will shape the region this decade?

5 January 5690

Left to right: Otar Khimshiashvili, Babine Keshev, Yelhqan Tleptseruk, Miqe Kushbuk (police sketch)

With a war of words raging over the health of President Vasil Khimshiashvili, public discourse building about the future of the Hobrazian system and the rapidly approaching 58th century, it is important to take stock of the major players in the current political landscape. Deltaria is one of the most fascinating, but also divided, regions in the country. It is essentially split into a majority-Hobrazian "Eastern Deltaria" and an overwhelmingly Deltarian "Western Deltaria", called Adelte Kheku by Deltarian nationalists.

Among the various figures of the region's rich political tapestry, we have selected four of the most important - each representing a different path for the region's development and political system. 

Otar Khimshiashvili
Special Security Commissioner for Western Deltaria

The illegitimate son of of Vasil Khimshiashvili by his ethnic-Deltarian former partner, Zuliyzhan Indarok. Born just before his father's remarriage to Elene Dadiani, his mixed heritage became increasingly controversial as relationships between the Deltarian and Hobrazian ethnic groups in historical Deltaria began to fray during the terroristic insurgency of the "Brotherhood of the Mountains". 

Otar was given the new title of "Special Security Commissioner for Western Deltaria" to oversee the region's reconstruction following the execution of Wezreg Kushbuk, the leader of the insurgent Brotherhood. While he lacked executive authority and was subordinate to his father's directives, Otar Khimshiashvili took an unexpectedly reconciliatory approach to Deltarian-Hobrazian relations and funded new housing developments to tackle displacement. 

His reputation has softened among the Deltarian highlanders, but he is viewed as weak and vacillating by those pushing a more security-focused direction to dealing with Western Deltaria. Meanwhile, hard-line Deltarian separatists and Ahmadists view him as an agent of Astorian control and a friendly face on an inherently unjust system of oppression.

Babine Keshev
Mayor of Zariya

A long-time favourite of Vasil Khimshiashvili, this telegenic young mayor is known for her fashion sense and deep loyalty to the Khimshiashvili family. Though herself part-Deltarian, she is of Hosian Deltarian stock and her Keshev clan were the primary local supporters of the anti-insurgency campaign in the '50s. This put them in good stead with Astoria and meant that they felt comfortable to stay in Zariya while much of its Ahmadi Deltarian population left.

Keshev is seen as a model mayor by the authorities in Astoria, having completely major infrastructure and housing projects and inviting people from across the country to build their new lives in Zariya. She is credited with making it one of the fastest-growing cities in the country. 

Of course, her clan heritage makes her a hate figure among Deltarian nationalist groups who cast her as a "traitor to her people" and a "harlot", whose career is owed to her good looks and Vasil's affections rather than her talent. Keshev has always called these attacks misogynistic and blamed the "natural backwardness of Ahmadist ideology" for misreporting of her relationship with the President.

Yelhqan Tleptseruk
Mayor of Moluki

The popular but low-profile mayor of the port city of Moluki, Tleptseruk is the first ethnic Deltarian to hold a major political position in Eastern Deltaria since the population movements of the '50s. A technocrat, he has focused primarily on scaling back zoning regulations and attracting Raktavani migrants to work in the city's booming construction sector. This has angered Hobrazian and Deltarian nativists, who see him as overly pluralistic.

Suspicion has been aroused, however, by Tleptseruk's supposed light touch on those attacking the government and the president. He was called to Astoria after an incident in which he pulled city police back from an engagement with Deltarian nationalist protesters, after which he gave a public speech hailing President Vasil Khimshiashvili as "the father of the nation".

Miqe Kushbuk
Fugitive

The youthful son of the of the executed Brotherhood of the Mountains leader, Wezreg Kushbuk, and grandson of the Brotherhood’s founder, Mamsir Kushbuk. He's also perhaps the most wanted man in Hobrazia. Though little is known about him besides his lineage and his brutality, he is beloved by Deltarian extremists and hated by the ordinary Hobrazian.

Though his age (like much of his life) is not confirmed, it is likely he is no older than 25. This is because he was only known to have been born shortly before his father's execution and grew up in hiding with his mother and the rest of the Kushbuk clan. Many of the "mountain folk" fear the Kushbuk's for their use of terror in advancing their Ahmadist-ultranationalist worldview and tendency to seek out "traitors" from within the Deltarian people. Wezreg Kushbuk was killed when an internal informant turned him in, which only made the violence between Deltarian clans worse. However, a special hatred is held by the Kushbuks for the Keshevs, who they view as "treacherous collaborators and infidels". 

Though the Brotherhood no longer controls significant territory, even in the rugged highlands of Eastern Deltaria, killings and robberies are still committed regularly by the Kushbuks under their new leader from their illusive underground hideouts. More recently, the supposedly devout Ahmadi has taken to using organised crimes and the drugs trade to fund his violent campaign.

Honourable mention: Neris Khimshiashvili
Student at Zariya University

The son of Otar Khimshiashvili, Neris was low-profile until just a few months ago. A telegenic young man, he is studying philosophy at Zariya University and a press release last year suggested he wanted to join Hobrazia's air force thereafter. 

This all changed when he posted on social media a meme mocking the official video released to prove his grandfather's good health. This incident naturally went viral, and he was instructed by his father to publicly apologise. He stated that his post was "satire" and that he "profusely" apologises to "dear babba". He confirmed his grandfather was in good health and was doing keepy-uppies when he saw him last month.

ზურიას მეურვე (Zariya Guardian) is a moderate-conservative newspaper and media website based in the city of Zariya in historic Deltaria.