Valruzia

[Aethan]

Szczepan Morawski found dead in prison

Former dictator, 95, was found lifeless by prison officials this morning

November 5641

Celebrations in the streets of Nowogard

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Szczepan Morawski, the iron-fisted ruler who dominated Valruzia for nearly three decades during its most recent darkest authoritarian period, was found dead in his prison cell this morning at age 95. The former dictator, who was serving a life sentence "for high crimes against the nation, against humanity, and against the democratic order of the Republic", died of natural causes according to preliminary prison medical reports, although the official report will not be made public until a few months later.

News of Morawski's death triggered immediate celebrations in Nowogard and other major cities, with crowds gathering to chant "Justice is served!" and "The tyrant is dead!" - a stark contrast to the fear that once accompanied the spirits of the Valruzian people before his eventual downfall. 

Morawski seized power in 5592 through a military coup, successfully establishing a regime marked by political purges and executions of dissidents, suppression of free press and opposition parties and economic policies that collapsed Valruzia into poverty and sold it to foreign agents. However, his rule ended in 5624 after the 5623-5624 Valruzian protests, when mass protests and military defections forced his eventual surrender.

While many citizens are celebrating the passing of the late dictator, human rights groups emphasized the importance of remembering and not forgetting his victims. "His death doesn't erase the scars of thousands of families" said Marta Kowalska, of the Valruzian Memory Foundation.

The government has announced that Morawski will be buried in an unmarked grave, denying requests by far-right groups for a state funeral. Chancellor Nowik stated simply: "History has rendered its verdict". Valruzian Alliance, considered by many as a covert nostalgic party of the regime, has called on the government to celebrate a State funeral, decrying the decision as "a humiliation of our national history". Deputy Chancellor and Minister of Foreign Affairs Robert Sobieraj posted on social media a simple message, saying "GOOD.", which in just a few hours had already gathered more than a million shares. When asked about that, Minister Sobieraj simply said that he had just heard about a "very good story" happening that same night.

President Szymona Razem issued a official statement, calling on the nation to "heal, advance and not forget nor rejoice in the Valruzian past", a statement condemned by some as "too light" on Morawski's terror era.