A pioneering young Briton has spoken out after attempts to found a small nation in Europe along a disputed border resulted in arrest and deportation.
19-year-old Daniel Jackson is the ‘President’ of the ‘Free Republic of Verdis,’ a micronation in the Balkans founded by like-minded friends in 2019.
Verdis was set up on a 128-acre site along an unclaimed stretch of the Danube River between Croatia and Serbia. Daniel and his fellow founders wanted Verdis to be a humanitarian hub operating on direct democracy and crowdfunding.
Settlement of Verdis began on October 11, 2023 however, this process was abruptly halted when Croatian authorities entered and detained the settlers, which Jackson claims violates international law.
Daniel told Express.co.uk: “At the time of the intrusion by Croatian police, we were preparing to open Verdis’ borders to settlers. We had a certain amount due to arrive over the first few weeks as the settlement had only just started.
“Previously, we had done a lot of work during the prior months surveying the land and carrying out safety checks.”
He added: “I was excited but I was also very nervous. We had to be very selective and careful about the people we were letting in as we are responsible for that jurisdiction. We also wanted to show that we were openly ready to cooperate and work with our neighbours Croatia, and Serbia. We had Croatians, Australians, Brits, Serbians, due to join us.
“After the situation with Croatia, it demotivated some people but the settlers who were detained and removed from Croatia are ready to regroup and re-inhabit Verdis as soon as possible, including me.”
Daniel, who was born in Australia to British parents, hit out at the behaviour of Croatian police as “rude, childish and aggressive.”
He told Express.co.uk: “Police acted aggressive for the most part. They lied to us, refused to translate documents and one officer even rubbed his hand on the mud then on the Verdisian flag on the beach.”
He continued: “They were absolutely vile breaking international law and their own laws. We did our best to remain polite to them.”
According to Daniel, the Croatian cops forced the settlers to board a boat, claiming they were not being detained, while also prohibiting them from walking away. The settlers’ documents and mobile phones were also taken and they were held at a police station near the Hungarian border for several hours, unable to leave.
The authorities later informed Daniel and the other settlers that they must leave Croatia within seven days for three months, or face deportation.
Daniel told Express.co.uk: “There was no justification. Croatia’s actions were a violation of international law as Verdis is outside both Croatian local and cadastral mapping.
“They could not give us a reason for anything they were doing and repeatedly used loopholes claiming we weren’t under arrest but not letting us move about anywhere. They our phones, didn’t let us record, I was told to leave Croatia within a few days or face forced removal.
“My ban was for three months and it expired literally the other day, however I’ve heard that this ban is more de facto permanent as other people I know have been denied entry into Croatia since their bans have expired. “It’s a completely gray area but it appears I won’t be able to get back in until the situation is properly reviewed.”
Daniel and his friends choose the plot of land for the fledgling state due to the plot going unclaimed by any existing international state, known as terra nullius.
Since the Croatian War of Independence, the land has not been officially claimed by Croatia, Serbia, or any other state as a result of the ongoing border dispute between Zagreb and Belgrade.
Daniel told Express.co.uk: “I believe public awareness and knowledge is important for Verdis’ future, especially as we prepare to take things to legal. We want to make sure Croatia acknowledges its actions and lets us back on our land.”
