A micro-nation born out of a border dispute
Verdis is located on a 0.5-square-kilometer patch of forest known on maps as “pocket three.” The area remains unclaimed by either Croatia or Serbia due to an unresolved border dispute. Jackson told news agency SWNS that he discovered the area was technically unowned and decided to act on an idea he first had as a teenager.
“Verdis was an idea I had when I was 14,” said Jackson. “It was just a bit of an experiment at first with a few mates. We have all dreamed of creating something crazy.”
Building a government from scratch
Jackson, a digital designer who creates virtual worlds on Roblox, began working seriously on Verdis at the age of 18. He introduced laws, selected official languages, English, Croatian, and Serbian, and adopted the Euro as the national currency.
“We started making Verdis a reality when I was 18 by forming some laws and a flag,” he said. “We have now built up a government and have a great cabinet.”
Verdis is accessible only by boat from the Croatian city of Osijek. Despite its remote location, Jackson claims over 15,000 people have applied for citizenship, and more than 400 have been approved. Each citizen receives a Verdisian passport, though Jackson warns it should not be used for international travel.
Confrontation with Croatian authorities
In October 2023, Croatian police detained Jackson and several others who attempted to settle in the area. They were deported and Jackson was banned from re-entering Croatia for life.”They deported us but couldn’t give a reason why,” Jackson said. “They said we were a threat to homeland security.”
Since then, he has operated what he calls a “government in exile” and accused Croatian authorities of installing surveillance to block access from the Serbian side.
“We have had a lot of problems with Croatian authorities, but we do want a good relationship with them in the future,” he said. “They haven’t taken to us kindly and have been aggressive.”
Support from Serbia and future plans
Jackson now travels often to Belgrade, Serbia, where he says officials have been more open to his project. He continues to advocate for access to Verdis and hopes to return there one day.
“It is a matter of when, not if, we get back on the land,” he said. “Croatia doesn’t claim the land, so we have the right to it, and we believe that we have a good chance.”
A symbolic project with growing support
Jackson said the Free Republic of Verdis started with just four people. The micro-nation now selectively approves citizens based on their skills, especially in areas like medicine or policing.
“It is a very small country so we have to be careful who we let in,” he said.
Despite legal obstacles and setbacks, Jackson insists the goal is not personal power but creating a working, community-driven micro-nation.
“If successful, I would step down from my position and call an election,” he said. “I am not interested in power at all … I just want to be a normal citizen. It has been eye-opening, and I am quite proud of what I have achieved.”
“To the naked eye it is just a lot of forest, but when you realize that you are in a country you have created, it is magical,” he added.
