Here are some screenshots as requested and an introduction to one of our more obscure nations:
The Republic of Marii El - Марий Эл Республик
The young Marii El Republic with its capital at Yoshkar-Ola, bordering the Komi Republic, Idel-Ural State, and Russia
The small, agrarian Republic of Marii El has secured its independence as Russia's authority in more remote and ethnically diverse regions collapsed following mass civic unrest, but its future is looking increasingly more uncertain. A small yet tactically important state located along the Volga, the Marii El Republic is a Finno-Ugric, predominantly pagan and Christian nation in contrast to its more powerful southern neighbour, the Idel-Ural State. Once a member of the Idel-Ural confederation, the
Marii left only a year after they had fought side by side with Muslim Tatars, Chuvash, and Bashkirs and declared their independence. Fearing Russian expansion and 'intervention' in what could have been a short and bloody war, the Tatar leadership of the Idel-Ural State let the Marii take their own path, and the two states maintain a frosty yet politically useful relationship. The Marii have begun to look West, however, and as an increasingly strong Poland talks of encircling Russia through the policy of
Prometheism, states such as Marii El are beginning to play an increasing role in international affairs. Just like their fellow Finno-Ugric neighbours to the north, the Komi, the Marii have been in contact with an expansionist Finland, eager to play on their romanticist ideal of a 'brotherhood' between all Finnic peoples, including the Marii. Only one thing is sure, and that is that soon, either Russia or the Idel-Ural State will try and expand, and more likely than not, it will be at the young Marii Republic's expense.
Though much of the Republic's power lies in the hands of ethnic Russian settlers, the Marii have been able to foster some national pride and this is reflected in the nation's first cabinet, led by the popular Marii intellectual and poet, Sergei Chavain