20-Year-Old Australian Declares New Nation With 400 Citizens On Disputed Land
A young Australian has drawn global attention after proclaiming himself president of a self-declared micronation called the Free Republic of Verdis. Situated on a 125-acre stretch of unclaimed forest along the Danube River—between Croatia and Serbia—this tiny new country has nearly 400 citizens, its own flag, currency, cabinet, and official languages.
Daniel Jackson, 20, founded Verdis after discovering the land—known as “pocket three” on maps—was unclaimed due to an unresolved border dispute between the two Balkan nations. “I had the idea when I was 14, just as a fun experiment with some friends,” Jackson said. By 18, he had begun formalising the nation by drafting laws and designing a flag.
Officially declared independent on May 30, 2019, Verdis recognises English, Croatian, and Serbian as its official languages and uses the Euro. Accessible only by boat from Osijek, Croatia, Verdis has faced pushback from Croatian authorities. In October 2023, Jackson and other settlers were detained and deported. He has since been banned for life from entering Croatia.
Despite the resistance, Jackson remains optimistic. “We want a positive relationship with Croatia in the future,” he said, though he accuses the country of setting up surveillance to restrict access from Serbia.
Currently operating a “government in exile,” Jackson continues advocating for Verdis while traveling frequently to Belgrade, Serbia, where he claims to have found more support.
Every Verdisian citizen receives a passport, although Jackson warns against using it for international travel. Some citizens, however, reportedly have done so successfully. Due to the nation’s small size, Verdis selectively grants citizenship—prioritising people with skills in medicine, law enforcement, and other essential fields.
Jackson insists he’s not after power. If Verdis gains formal recognition and control of the land, he plans to step down and hold democratic elections. Despite legal setbacks, he is confident that Verdis’ claim will one day be legitimised, saying: “Croatia doesn’t claim it, so we have every right to.”
News Source : Information for this article was gathered from a variety of reliable news outlets.
