An Australian teenager has attracted international attention by declaring himself the president of the self-proclaimed Free Republic of Verdis -which is a micronation located in a 125-acre woodland on the Danube River between Croatia and Serbia.
The region, also known as “pocket three,” remains not officially claimed due to the ongoing border dispute between two nations. In the year 2019, Daniel Jackson founded Verdis, creating a flag, Cabinet, currency and a populace that is approximately 400.
Jackson originally came up with his idea when he was just 14 when he began a idea with a group of friends. However, when he was 18 he was to formalize the country’s administration. Verdis declares English, Croatian, and Serbian as official languages. It also uses the Euro as a currency. Verdis is accessible via boat from Osijek, Croatia, but attempts to establish a permanent presence there have met with a lot of resistance.
In October 2023 Croatian police detained and exiled many settlers, including Jackson who was deported and handed the settlers a lifetime ban of visiting the country due to security issues. Since since then, Jackson has operated a “government in exile,” asserting that Croatian authorities are monitoring the coast to stop any attempt to enter by the Serbian shoreline.
According Jackson, according to Jackson, Serbia has shown greater willingness to support the cause and Jackson regularly visits Belgrade to conduct diplomatic visits. The ultimate aim, he says, is to get access back to Verdis by holding elections, and then step down in the event of a successful run for president.
Verdis is also able to issue its own passports, but Jackson cautions against applying them to international travel as some of its citizens have reportedly tried to use them. The citizenship, Jackson says is only granted to select people in order to give priority professional professionals who are skilled, like police officers and doctors.
In spite of the legal and logistical hurdles, Jackson maintains that Verdis is entitled to the land, and claims that Croatia is not formally disputing the land. Unaffected by setbacks the self-proclaimed president remains confident that in the future, his nation’s dream will come to the reality it is today.
