The car drove onto a spacious road, with tall and straight birch forests on both sides, and behind the forests, the lake shimmered in the sunlight, its waves sparkling.
In the center of the lake lay an island, where among the lush forests You could make out clusters of staggered white buildings. That place was the Presidential Palace, a magnet for politicians.
The island was oval-shaped and only connected to the outside world by a single bridge, guarded at both ends by heavy troops. Every entering car was recorded by CCTV, and patrol boats were on the lookout 24 hours a day—security was tight.
After crossing the bridge, one could see the imposing and solemn cluster of buildings, consisting of the main building and the east and west wings, with their snow-white exteriors and neatly arranged columns, presenting a robust and elegant Presidential Palace at a glance.