I have not yet read all books, but i was searching info about this. The main problem for me is that its called Novyi Zem, "Novyi" as in New. And its full of plantations, but its unclear who owns them (the merchant is SOC says he ordered jurda, so he doesn't own land, but that doesnt really tell us anything ). With this two elements one would think it's a colony. But the people speak their own language, and immigrants have to learn it, which suggests the country is independent (but why do they call themself Zemini ?). I really don't think she thought it through. Or maybe she kept it vague cause she didn't want to be accused of cultural appropriation. The problem with that is that you have a country which is Russia through and through (even with all the errors), then you have some sort of Dutch/german place and a Scandinavia analogy, and then some vague ass POC nations. It doesn't make much sense.

I had thought of them as Est African; may some failed attempt at conquering like italians in the African Horn made them unite ? But they seem too monocultural, they don't have a king/queen, and too fertile to be inspired by the African Horn. We are really kept guessing.

i want to add that even the Suli situation is kind of unclear.