A 20-year-old Australian man is in the headlines for apparently forming a new country called ‘Verdis’ on a disputed no-man’s land between Croatia and Serbia. The country now has around 400 citizens, with English, Croatian, and Serbian listed as its official languages. Here’s more on it.
Australian Man Forms A New Country ‘Verdis’
Daniel Jackson, a 20-year-old Australian and the founder of the “Free Republic of Verdis”, has garnered global attention. He’s declared himself president of a self-proclaimed nation on a disputed no-man’s land between Croatia and Serbia. As per a report by NDTV World, Verdis is a tiny nation nestled in a 125-acre forest along the Danube River.
But that’s not the only bizarre part. The micronation reportedly has its flag, cabinet, currency, and nearly 400 citizens. The land Jackson discovered was unclaimed due to an ongoing border dispute, which gave him the perfect opportunity to make it his own.
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A Childhood Idea Turns Into A Real Country
2 years ago today, I made my first trip to Verdis on a routine surveying trip with the Foreign Minister. I made many other trips to Verdis afterwards leading up to the settlement. This day was a dream come true; we have progressed so much since 2022. We’ve provided humanitarian… pic.twitter.com/JfFmACbFza
— Daniel Jackson (@danieljacksonvs) April 12, 2024
As per the same report, the Free Republic of Verdis was Jackson’s idea since he was 14. At first, it was just a “crazy experiment” he started with his mates. A digital designer who creates virtual worlds on Roblox, Jackson began building Verdis’ government when he turned 18.
Verdis is located on a 0.5-square-kilometre forest patch known as “Pocket Three”. It’s a disputed zone claimed by neither Croatia nor Serbia. Jackson declared independence of the Free Republic of Verdis on May 30, 2019. He has also formed basic laws and set up a cabinet. As per a report by NDTV World, the micronation’s official languages are English, Croatian, and Serbian, and it uses the Euro as its currency.
Accessible only by boat from Osijek, Croatia, Verdis has faced several challenges. In October 2023, Croatian police detained and deported several settlers, including Daniel Jackson, who was given a lifetime ban from entering Croatia. He now claims to run a “government in exile” and hopes to return to Verdis one day.
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Every Citizen Has Their Passport
A reminder that e-Residency is one of the easiest pathways to Verdisian citizenship 🛂
Learn more:https://t.co/OYwbfFYFYU pic.twitter.com/ibqdTlqffP
— Verdis (@verdisgov) November 3, 2024
Reportedly, every citizen of Verdis is issued a passport, although it’s not valid for international travel. The micronation is also quite selective about who can become a citizen. Jackson says they prioritise people with medical, security, or legal expertise. Currently serving as president, he has also stated that he can step down from his post and call an election.
This is certainly not something we read about every day. What do you think of the Free Republic of Verdis?
Cover Image Courtesy: @danieljacksonvs/ X
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