Daniel Jackson, 20, created the Free Republic of Verdis with friends after discovering an unclaimed forest strip outside Serbia and Croatia. They formed a government, established laws, and planted a flag, though it has never been inhabited. Verdis is a micronation slightly larger than Vatican City, existing since the dissolution of Yugoslavia over 30 years ago. They claim the territory based on international law, asserting that Croatia and Serbia have never claimed it and they are the oldest active claimant, having accepted 400 citizenship applications from 15,000 received.
Jackson and his friends scoured maps and discovered an unclaimed strip of forest that falls outside the borders of Croatia and Serbia, wanting to make it into a country.
Though there is no single, universal way to acquire sovereignty over a territory, Jackson and his fellow Verdis enthusiasts have formed a government, established laws, and attracted 15,000 applications for citizenship.
Legal experts have told Jackson that under international law, the oldest active claimant to the land is the rightful claimant, which they believe they are.
Verdis is just 1.6 hectares larger than Vatican City and has never been inhabited, positioned as a micronation since the dissolution of Yugoslavia.
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