عالمی ریئل اسٹیٹ خبریں

New York | ReNews International Desk News

A 21 year old British man who declared the establishment of his own country on a small stretch of disputed territory between Croatia and Serbia has received a humanitarian award at a ceremony held at the United Nations headquarters in New York.

According to the New York Post, Daniel Jackson, founder and self declared president of the Free Republic of Verdis, was honoured for humanitarian initiatives undertaken by his micronation, particularly its assistance to Ivory Coast in West Africa.

The award was presented on October 9, 2026, by the Institute of Public Policy and Diplomacy Research during an event at the UN Delegates Dining Room. Although the ceremony took place at UN headquarters, the award was issued by the independent organisation rather than the United Nations itself.

Jackson first developed the idea of creating an independent country with a group of friends when he was just 14 years old.

On May 30, 2019, he declared the establishment of the Free Republic of Verdis on a small territory along the Danube River between Croatia and Serbia.

The approximately 125 acre area, identified on maps as Pocket-3, lies within a region affected by a longstanding border dispute between the two countries.

Jackson maintains that neither Croatia nor Serbia claims sovereignty over this particular piece of land, although his declaration has not resulted in international recognition.

According to reports, Verdis claims approximately 400 registered citizens and has established its own flag, passports, constitution, legal framework and government cabinet.

Despite these developments, Verdis is not recognised as an independent sovereign state by the United Nations or the international community.

Attempts by Jackson and his supporters to establish a permanent settlement on the territory have also been unsuccessful.

Croatian authorities have restricted access to the area, and Jackson has been barred from entering Croatia. Consequently, he and his associates continue operating what they describe as a government in exile.

The self proclaimed micronation has nevertheless pursued international engagement and humanitarian initiatives in an effort to expand its global presence.

Its activities in Ivory Coast, including support for community development and educational facilities, contributed to the recognition Jackson received at the New York ceremony.

On October 9, Verdis representative Jeffrey Li, who serves as its Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, also addressed a youth forum associated with the United Nations General Assembly.

During his remarks, Li discussed the importance of youth participation in international humanitarian efforts and outlined the micronation's previous activities and future objectives.

Jackson described attending the international gathering at such a young age as an extraordinary experience, acknowledging that he was still becoming accustomed to engaging with influential personalities at major international events.

The Free Republic of Verdis continues to attract interest from individuals seeking citizenship and involvement in its activities.

However, its future remains uncertain because of unresolved territorial issues, restrictions on physical access and the absence of international diplomatic recognition.