Short answers, pulled from the story.
The name Idel-Ural literally means Volga-Urals in the Tatar language. Writers frequently use this term to designate six specific republics within Russia including Bashkortostan, Chuvashia, Mari El, Mordovia, Tatarstan, and Udmurtia.
Native tribes dominated the area before being conquered by the Tsardom of Russia in the 16th century. Succession of Turkic-led empires ruled over these lands for centuries prior to Russian expansion.
At the time of Peter the Great's death around the early 18th century the region had been made up of roughly 1 million people. Around half of those residents were Tatars, Bashkirs, and Chuvash.
The major religions in the region are Islam and Orthodox Christianity. These two faiths have existed side by side within modern boundaries for centuries with mosques standing near churches along the banks of the Volga River.
Historical political entities that sought independence included the Idel-Ural State, the Idel-Ural Legion, Free Idel-Ural, and the Volga Confederation. These movements faced significant challenges from central authorities in Moscow while advocating for regional rights.