In 2019, Australian-born Australian entrepreneur, Andrew Jackson, discovered a small strip of unclaimed land between Croatia and Serbia, leading to the creation of the Republic of Verdis. Jackson, who was made interim president, aims to establish the country as a neutral state and humanitarian hub. Verdis, derived from the Latin word for 'green’, reflects the country’s respect for the environment.
Funding for Verdis has come from NGOs, individual donors, citizenship applications, and a fundraiser. The 128-acre site is split between a northern, forested, elevated section in the north and a more marshy section in the south. Both Croatia and Serbia claim larger areas around the River Danube, leaving this particular pocket unclaimed.
Despite the initial setback, Jackson plans a legal battle to secure the rights to the land. The country’s first national crisis occurred when Croatian police arrested settlers and told them to leave the country or face deportation. Jackson is planning a legal battle to secure the rights to the land, as neither side has claimed the land.
Verdis has some international recognition, with Eswatini, a southern African country, recognising the country’s passports earlier this year. The region in which Verdis aims to settle is known for bloody wars over territorial disputes as Yugoslavia broke up in the 1990s. Jackson also wants Verdis to be a model for new government systems, focusing on direct democracy instead of semi-direct. However, he warns that Verdis should not be mistaken for a utopian free-for-all, as the country would have to set up its own police force, justice system, and maintain strict border control.
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