British man, 21, who founded his own country receives award from the United Nations

Key Points:

• Daniel Jackson, a 21-year-old British man, declared a small unclaimed land pocket along the Danube River as the Free Republic of Verdis in 2019 and has since made himself its president.
• Verdis, about 125 acres in size and accessible only by boat, is considered a "government in exile" due to restrictions and surveillance imposed by Croatian authorities, though Daniel has been granted Serbian citizenship.
• Despite challenges, Verdis has gained international recognition, receiving a humanitarian award at a UN gala for aid provided in the Ivory Coast and participating in the UN General Assembly Youth Mobilization Segment.
• The micronation has established symbols of statehood including passports, a flag, a cabinet, laws, embassies, and has around 400 official citizens, with English, Croatian, and Serbian as official languages.
• The project began as a youthful experiment but has grown significantly, supported by a dedicated team and a strong social media following, although citizenship remains limited due to the small territory.