Settlers from a country located in the heart of the Balkans marched in London, UK, on Saturday (May 4) to proclaim their right to exist, a struggle the citizens of the Republic of Verdis have been fighting for since its creation five years ago.

If you have never heard of Verdis before, it’s because its formation is new, controversial, and overshadowed by the region’s deep-rooted geopolitical conflicts.

Located on the western side of the Danube between Croatia and Serbia, Verdis was spearheaded in 2019 by Daniel Jackson, a British man born in Upper Ferntree Gully, just outside of Melbourne, Australia. 

“I used to travel to and from Europe when I was younger, and I have spent a considerable amount of time in Eastern Europe and the Balkans,” Daniel, who is the president of the republic, told Bored Panda in an email.

Settlers from the Balkans marched in London to assert the Republic of Verdis’ right to existence amid geopolitical controversy

Image credits: Daniel Jackson

Along with a small group of people, Daniel took issue with how the Croatian government was handling the nation, ultimately prompting the decision to form a separate country.

The movement grew, and the small republic can now count around 400 citizens, with the president noting that over 15,000 people have applied for citizenship in the past.

“There are numerous ways to become a citizen of Verdis,” President Jackson explained. “For example, people can become citizens by invitation from contribution, e-Residency, investment, or even standard naturalization.”

Image credits: danieljacksonvs

The republic used to have an ESVISA (early settler visa) pathway, where a person would inhabit Verdis for a certain amount of time before being fast-tracked for citizenship.

“Citizens have a big part in building Verdis’ future,” Daniel said. “This ranges from the promotion of new ideas and voting on how the country will be run in the future.”

Given the present geopolitical climate, the term “settler” may raise concerns. But Daniel affirmed: “We are not colonizing any part of Croatia.”

Verdis was founded in 2019, and Daniel Jackson, from Australia, is the republic’s president

Image credits: Daniel Jackson

According to the republic, Verdis is located on a land that is not officially part of Croatia or Serbia. 

“No inhabitants have previously lived on this land either,” the president said. “Most of our citizens are also ethnic Croats and Serbs.”

Moreover, anyone can apply to live in Verdis as long as they meet the necessary criteria, including “having good intentions and [respecting] Verdisian law,” as per the republic’s official website.

Image credits: GR_Verdis

“Verdis is a country as we have the right to our land under international law,” the president said.

The nation’s political system currently operates under a provisional government with basic laws.

“Once we are back on the land and have made enough development, a new constitution will be proposed and voted on, which will also then eventually lead to a newly elected government,” Daniel added.

Located on the western side of the Danube between Croatia and Serbia, the region has been disputed

Image credits: google maps

The United Nations’ charter includes the right to self-determination. Moreover, the UN’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights article 15 states that everyone has the right to nationality and that no one should be arbitrarily deprived of a nationality or denied the right to change nationality.

On October 12, 2023, Verdisians declared that the Croatian government had violated international law by entering into their land and destroying their permanent settlement.

“Previously, we never had any problem with Croatian authorities,” Daniel revealed. “The border police used to wave at us as they went past Verdis during cadastral mapping/surveying trips.”

Image credits: Daniel Jackson

He added: “It was only when the permanent settlement started that they invaded. 

“We are working to regain access to the land and try to restore positive relations with the Republic of Croatia.”

In a previous interview with Unilad, President Jackson said that the overall goal for his country was to focus on humanitarian efforts and build a thriving city.

Moreover, he noted that despite he and his citizens being banned from the land, they had been able to provide aid to Ukraine in its fight with Russia.

The self-described settlers emphasized they were not acting as colonizers and asserted that the region was uninhabited prior to their arrival

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Image credits: Daniel Jackson

“Verdis has a large goal in being a humanitarian, neutral state,” Daniel told Bored Panda. “We have worked to provide humanitarian aid to areas in need, although this has primarily been Ukraine, as it has been the most accessible for us, and there are safe regions for our volunteers.”

He added: “I have made two of the trips myself. A lot has been sorting and providing items such as radios.”

For the moment, President Jackson and his fellow Verdisians are hoping that they will be out of exile soon.

Image credits: Daniel Jackson

“In the meantime, we are still functioning as a government and working on building international relations, although this will speed up even more when we are back on the land,” he said. “We hope to be a fully developed, internationally recognized state within a few years of being back on the land.”

The nation and its supporters have already taken action to achieve this goal, as exemplified by their solidarity march in the UK’s capital city over the weekend, which saw the group walking from the Europe House to Croatia’s embassy.

As per its governmental website, the event’s turnout was “successful and also allowed an opportunity for citizens and supporters to become more involved in Verdis, and have any questions they had answered by Verdis officials and settlers.”

The small republic can now count around 400 citizens, with a majority of ethnic Serbs and Croats

Image credits: Daniel Jackson

“While in exile, we still have a functioning government and continue to operate as a state,” President Jackson reassured. “Because of that, there are numerous people who are in charge of coordinating certain efforts.”

For the time being, Verdis’ economy is limited and relies on agreements with individuals interested in investing, crowdfunding, as well as its €100 citizenship application fees.

“We have always had very positive support from locals of nearby towns, such as Aljmas and Apatin. It is just the Croatian border police we have ever had a problem with,” Daniel said.

Image credits: Daniel Jackson

He further argued: “Croatia and Serbia recognizing Verdis would bring many benefits to the neighboring regions of Slavonia and Vojvodina, such as an increase in tourism.”

The small republic has adopted regional cultures, including its officially recognized languages, which consist of English, Croatian, and Serbian.

“We are a biscriptal country, meaning both Latin and Cyrillic alphabets are mutually official,” President Jackson said.

Verdisians have been actively providing humanitarian aid to Ukraine

Image credits: Daniel Jackson

Verdis’ flag is an additional nod to the Balkans, with its blue at the bottom representing the Danube River, the white in the middle representing peace and unity, and the top blue representing clear skies.

“We have made sure to be as inclusive and acknowledging as possible,” President Jackson said.

When asked about the creation of Verdis’ possibility of contributing to more tensions in the region, Daniel explained: “Verdis is a strictly neutral country, and we have made sure never to express our opinions on the politics of neighboring countries.”

Image credits: Daniel Jackson

“Many citizens who are ethnic Croats and Serbs just want to get along with each other.”

The region, formally part of Yugoslavia, was impacted by a series of conflicts that occurred in the 1990s after the breakup of Yugoslavia. 

The ex-Yugoslavian war led to various ethnic groups fighting for independence, resulting in widespread violence, ethnic cleansing, and displacement of millions of people.

Verdisians declared that the Croatian government violated international law by entering into their land and destroying their permanent settlement

Ultimately, Verdisians are committed to getting back on the land and have the opportunity to become more involved in the state as they continue with their goals.

On May 30, the republic will be celebrating its five-year Foundation Day anniversary.

Bored Panda has contacted Croatian and Serbian foreign affairs ministries for comment.

The decision of the Republic of Verdis to establish itself in and profit off a region previously affected by war does not necessarily align with Bored Panda’s values.

People were left divided by Verdis’ recent activities

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