A man named Daniel Jackson, born in Australia and raised in the UK, has established a small “nation” on a disputed piece of land in the Balkan Peninsula in Europe, appointing himself as the president. This country not only has a flag, passport, currency, and cabinet, but also around 400 citizens.
According to a report by the New York Post on August 3, the 20-year-old Jackson discovered a disputed land between Romania and Serbia, both of which had not claimed sovereignty over it. This land is a forest area along the Danube River, covering less than 125 acres.
Jackson officially declared the establishment of a country on this forest land on May 30, 2019, naming it the “Free Republic of Verdis.” He declared himself as the president, designed the country’s flag and passport, formulated laws, and created a cabinet, presenting a structured appearance.
“Verdis was an idea I had when I was 14 years old. Initially, it was just a small experiment with a few friends. We all dreamed of creating something crazy,” Jackson said.
Initially, as a digital designer, Jackson established the “Free Republic of Verdis” in the online game “Roblox” and later brought it to the real world.
He mentioned that he started formulating laws for Verdis when he was 18 years old and designed a national flag to make this country a reality. “Now we have established a government and have an excellent cabinet,” he added.
The official languages of the country are English, Croatian, and Serbian, with the Euro being the circulating currency. The only way to reach the country is by boat from the Croatian city of Osijek.
He claimed that the country is marked on maps as “Pocket Three” and currently ranks as the “second smallest” country in the world, after Vatican City.
Initially starting with only 4 citizens, the country has expanded to over 400 people through online recruitment. Each citizen holds a Verdis passport, although it is not valid for international travel. However, it is reported that some individuals have used this passport to enter other countries.
Jackson informed the UK’s Southwest News Service (SWNS), “This is a very small country, so we have to carefully select who can enter.”
When reviewing applications for joining the country, they consider if applicants possess urgently needed skills such as medical or law enforcement experience.
In October 2023, several citizens of the “Free Republic of Verdis” were detained by the Croatian police, including Jackson, and subsequently deported and banned from re-entering the country.
Regarding this incident, Jackson said, “They deported us without giving a reason, only stating that we posed a threat to national security. We have had many issues with the Croatian authorities, but we still hope to build a good relationship with them in the future.”
Currently, Jackson operates the “Free Republic of Verdis” as an “exiled government.” Despite setbacks, he remains optimistic about returning to that land in the future.
He stated, “Since Croatia has not claimed sovereignty over this land, we have the right to be there, and we believe our chances are high.”
Jackson emphasized that he is not power-hungry. If successful, he is willing to resign from the presidency and hold elections, preferring to be an ordinary citizen.