An Australian teenager, Daniel Jackson, has proclaimed a new micronation called the Free Republic of Verdis on a 125-acre disputed forest between Croatia and Serbia. The self-declared country, unrecognized by any government or the UN, has sparked controversy, with neighboring nations viewing it as a security threat.
Jackson, now a digital designer, first conceived the idea at 14 and officially declared Verdis independent on May 30, 2019. The micronation boasts its own flag, laws, cabinet, and currency (pegged to the euro), with English, Croatian, and Serbian as official languages. Accessible only by boat from Osijek, Croatia, Verdis has faced resistance—Croatian police detained and deported Jackson in October 2023, banning him for life.
Despite challenges, Verdis has attracted over 15,000 citizenship applications, granting 400 official passports (though Jackson warns against using them for travel). The land, known as Pocket Three, remains unclaimed due to a Croatia-Serbia border dispute.
Verdis offers e-Residency, allowing global applicants to register businesses and engage in its digital economy. However, background checks are mandatory, and tax laws remain in flux. While 400 residents reportedly live there, Verdis’s future hinges on geopolitical tensions and international recognition.
Also read: Trump warns Europe over immigration: ‘stop the invasion’
