Wikipedia

Liberland

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45°46′N 18°52′E / 45.767°N 18.867°E / 45.767; 18.867

Free Republic of Liberland
Coat of arms of Liberland
Coat of arms
Motto: [Žít a nechat žít] Error: {{Lang}}: unrecognized language code: cz (help)
To live and let live
Location of Liberland in Europe
Location of Liberland within Europe.
Official languagesCzech, English[1]
GovernmentConstitutional republic
• President
Vít Jedlička (founder)
Establishment
• Established
13 April 2015
Area
• Total
7 km2 (2.7 sq mi)
Population
• Estimate
80-120c
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)
UTC+2 (CEST)
Website
http://liberland.org

The Free Republic of Liberland (Template:Lang-cz) is a micronation claiming a parcel of land on the western bank of the Danube river between Croatia and Serbia, sharing a land border with the former. It was proclaimed on 13 April 2015 by Czech libertarian politician and activist Vít Jedlička.[1][2]

The official website of Liberland states that the nation was created due to the ongoing Croatia–Serbia border dispute.[3][4][5] There has been no diplomatic recognition of Liberland by any country from the United Nations.

Croatia has started blocking access to the area since the beginning of May 2015.[6] Vít Jedlička was twice detained for less than a day by Croatian authorities in the same month.

Geography

 
Liberland is situated at the largest green-colored land parcel, marked as "Siga" on the map. Due to differences in the border definitions, the yellow-colored parts to the east are claimed by both Serbia and Croatia. The green parts have remained unclaimed by both sides.
Further information: Croatia–Serbia border dispute

Since the Yugoslav Wars, some borderland territories between Serbia and Croatia have been disputed, such as the Island of Vukovar and the Island of Šarengrad. However, a few other territories went unclaimed by either side.[2] Liberland was proclaimed on the largest of those land parcels, which is known as Gornja Siga (meaning upper tufa).[1][4]

The area is about 7 km² (3 sq mi), and most of it is covered with forests. There are no residents. A journalist from cz [Parlamentní Listy] who visited the area in April 2015 found a house that had been abandoned for about thirty years, according to people living in the vicinity. The access road was reported to be in a bad condition.[7]

The Danube river, which is the only coastline of the territory, is an international waterway with free access to the Black Sea for several landlocked nations.

There are two internationally recognized sovereign states that are smaller than the area which Liberland claims; the Vatican City and Monaco.[8]

History

The flag raising in Gornja Siga was performed by Vít Jedlička and some of his associates at the same day the republic was proclaimed.[9][10] Jedlička is a member of the Czech Party of Free Citizens, which bases its values on the classical liberal ideology.[4]

Jedlička states that neither Serbia, Croatia nor any other nation claims the land as its own (terra nullius). The border, he argues, is defined in accordance with Croatian and Serbian border claims and does not interfere with any other state sovereignty.[1][11] Jedlička said in April 2015 that an official diplomatic note would be sent to both Croatia and Serbia, and later to all other states, with a formal request for international recognition.[12]

Reactions

In an interview with Parlamentní Listy in April, Jedlička claimed that he had received positive reactions for his initiative, mainly from his own party, but also from some members of the Civic Democratic Party and the Pirate Party.[9]

Dominik Stroukal from the Czech-Slovak branch of the Ludwig von Mises Institute wrote: "The escapade succeeded for Vít. The whole world reports about Liberland with words like 'tax competition', 'libertarianism', etc."[13]

Unlike our ancestors, explorers, pioneers and brutal colonizers, we've never had a chance to try. Perhaps we could do it differently than they did, given our technological advancement, broader views on race and gender and, one hopes, a more peaceful disposition.

— ru, Bloomberg View [14]

Goran Vojković from the Croatian tabloid index.hr described Liberland as a "circus which threatens Croatian territory", and argued that there was a risk that Croatia's claim to control land on the other side of the Danube may be weakened by the attention that the Liberland project has drawn to the border dispute. He also wrote that "every border crossing from the Croatian side needs to be punished".[15]

University lecture

On 20 April, Jedlička held a lecture at the Prague School of Economics, titled "Liberland – how a state is born" (Template:Lang-cz). He discussed various aspects of the project and the interest it has managed to attract around the world. One topic that he brought up was the Montevideo Convention, and explained how Liberland was getting closer to satisfying the principles of the convention, which is commonly used to define a state. At the time of the lecture, the Liberland project had assigned ten people to the task of handling foreign relations—people who were reportedly willing to establish residency on the territory.[16]

Topics also covered included the concept of voluntary taxation and how the large number of citizenship applications had made it necessary to make the process more effective and restructure it, since it was only based on an e-mail account. A plan to organize some type of event where everything is sold tax-free was mentioned, and Jedlička submitted that Croatia would not be able to prosecute them because the country had stated that the area is not within its jurisdiction.[16]

Access

Croatia has deployed police units to prevent attempts by Liberland staff and supporters to reach the uninhabited area.[17]

A team of journalists from the Serbian public broadcast service Radio Television of Vojvodina attempted to visit the area to make a news report. They reported that the Croatian border police denied them access without providing any clear explanation, and told them the flag had been taken down.[18] However, a group of Czech reporters managed to enter Liberland later the same week.[7]

A Bosnian group of journalists from Dnevni Avaz who attempted to visit Liberland were told by Croatian police that Croatia enforces a fine of {{currency}} – invalid amount (help) for those that enter the zone near the border with a car. They borrowed bicycles from a local, but as they attempted to reach Liberland again, they met another patrol, and they couldn't continue past the border gate.[19]

In May 2015, Vít Jedlička and his translator Sven Sambunjak were shortly detained by Croatian police after making an attempt to cross the border. Jedlička spent one night in detention and then was convicted and ordered to pay a fine for illegal crossing of the Croatian border[20] but appealed the verdict. He claimed that there were at least three Liberland citizens inside the area, who came from Switzerland.[21] He didn't view the arrest as something negative, but rather as an opportunity to discuss politics and get insights on the thoughts among those who work for the Croatian police and government. According to Jedlička, the police officers were friendly and curious about the project.[22][23][24]

A few days after his detention, six other people (from the Czech Republic, Ireland, Germany, Denmark, and the USA) were detained and fined. A complaint to the Danish Embassy in Zagreb was made because they allege they were prevented from contacting anyone during the apprehension and detention. Their goal, under the auspices of the Swiss non-profit organization Liberland Settlement Association, was to settle Liberland.[25]

According to the Liberlandian website, Jedlička and 10 other people were detained again 16 May 2015 by Croatian police. Jedlička was released after a court hearing 17 May 2015.[26]

Croatian police have continued detaining Liberland people that entered the area.[27] On 13 June, 4 people who managed to land there were detained for illegal border crossing by boat.[28][29] According to the Liberland Settlement Corporation, they were released 14 June.[30]

On 18 June 2015, Danish activist Ulrik Grøssel Haagensen accessed Liberland via a small boat and was followed onto the land by Croatian police. Haagensen attempted to explain his rights to access the land, but was placed under arrest and dragged off the land and into a Croatian police vessel. The incident was caught on video. Jedlička stated that he intends to attempt bringing Croatia to court for crossing an international border and invading Liberland.[31][32]

Structure

Administration

A government with ten to twenty members has been suggested for the administration of Liberland, to be elected by electronic voting.[9]

Borders and immigration

Liberland intends to operate on an open-border policy.[9]

Citizenship

The official motto of Liberland is "To live and let live" (Template:Lang-cz).[1] The goal of the micronation is to create a society where righteous people can prosper without state regulations and taxes. The founders are inspired by countries like Monaco and Liechtenstein. According to the official website, only communists, neonazis, and other extremists are ineligible for citizenship.[9][12][33] According to The Guardian (UK), it has received 200,000 applications for citizenship in a week.[34]

In the beginning of May 2015, Liberland issued the first citizenships, which amounted to around thirty. The event was supposed to take place in Liberland, but Croatian border police stopped the group from entering the territory from the Croatian side. There was also an attempt to cross the river with fishing boats from the Serbian side, but it failed because the local fishermen didn't have permits for transporting people with their boats. Furthermore, Serbian police informed Jedlička that those who try to perform illegal border crossings will be arrested. An improvised ceremony was instead held in Bački Monoštor. At the same time, Jedlička organized plans for another attempt, based on travelling all the way from the Czech Republic to Liberland on the Danube river (which is an international waterway).[35]

Law

Main article: Constitution of the Free Republic of Liberland

Liberland has published a draft version of a codified constitution[36] and a list of laws to be included in the constitution.[37] These documents describe Liberland as a country governed under a three-power system with executive, legislative and judicial sectors that seek to promote individual rights. It has also a list of criminal offences, which include "polluting environment", "public nuisance" in addition to crimes such as murder, manslaughter and theft.

Economy

There are plans for an official cryptocurrency system, although all other currencies will be allowed.[9] Liberland also accepts donations in bitcoin.[1]

Recognition

There has been no diplomatic recognition of Liberland by any country from the United Nations.

Official statements from states

  •   Croatia: Liberland has been mentioned by the Croatian Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs but rejected Liberland as a joke, without any more comments.[38] On June 29th 2015, the Croatian Ministry of Foreign affairs released a statement claiming that Gornja Siga's status is undetermined, but it is not terra nullius, and after international arbitration, it will be awarded to Croatia or Serbia, not a third party [39]
  •   Serbia: The Serbian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has stated that Liberland does not infringe upon the border of Serbia, although the project is seen as something "frivolous", with no further comment on the matter.[8]
  •   Egypt: The Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has warned people of the possibility of scams about Liberland that are directed to people that are looking for jobs abroad. "Egyptians should seek information from the Foreign Ministry rather than social media before travelling for work."[40]
  •   Czech Republic: The Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs disassociated itself from the activities of Mr. Jedlička, and stated it has nothing to do with them. The ministry also stated that "Mr. Jedlička, as well as other Czech citizens staying in the territory of Croatia or Serbia, is obliged to abide by the local legal code. The Czech Republic considers the activities of Mr. Jedlička inappropriate and potentially harmful."[41] Also, through the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Zagreb, it warned that the "efforts to create some new 'state' have no basis in international law," and that "in the territory of Croatia, citizens of the Czech Republic as well as other foreigners are obliged to adhere to the Croatian legal code, including the current regime on the Croatian-Serbian border. Crossing of the Croatian border (i.e. the external border of the European Union) outside specified border crossings, as it is done by travelers to the so-called Liberland, is in clear violation of the code."[42]

Statements

Official statements from political parties

  •    Switzerland: On 16 April 2015, Swiss Unabhängigkeitspartei (Independence Party) UP led by Brenda Mäder supported the creation of Liberland and called for the recognition of Liberland by the Swiss Government.[43]
  •   Norway: On 9 May 2015, the Capitalist Party declared support for the creation of Liberland.[44]
  •   Czech Republic: On 20 May 2015 the leader of the Party of Free Citizens Petr Mach expressed support for an attempt to create a state based on ideas of freedom, and wrote that the Party of Free Citizens wants the Czech Republic to become a similar free country.[45]
  •   Spain: On 31 May 2015 the Spanish Libertarian Party expressed support for creation of Liberland.[46]

Statements from other micronation projects

  • The self-proclaimed micronation Kingdom of North Sudan, which claims the Bir Tawil area between Egypt and Sudan, has recognized Liberland.[47]
  • The state of Paraduin's claim to Siga predates Liberland's claim by over a month. Paraduin's motto is 'freedom in solidarity'. It supports the idea of a basic income, and the Occupy movement.[48][49]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f "Liberland.org - About Liberland". liberland.org. Retrieved 15 April 2015.
  2. ^ a b Nolan, Daniel (25 April 2015). "Welcome to Liberland: Europe's Newest State". Vice News. Retrieved 25 April 2015.
  3. ^ "Balkans: Czech man claims to establish 'new state'". BBC News. Retrieved 17 April 2015.
  4. ^ a b c Martínek, Jan (15 April 2015). "Člen Svobodných vyhlásil na území bývalé Jugoslávie vlastní stát" (in Czech). Novinky.cz. Právo. Retrieved 15 April 2015.
  5. ^ "Čech si medzi Srbskom a Chorvátskom založil vlastný štát" (in Slovak). sme.sk. TASR. 15 April 2015. Retrieved 15 April 2015.
  6. ^ "My Way News - Microstate tax haven in the Balkans? Not that easy". Retrieved 11 May 2015.
  7. ^ a b Panenka, Radim (20 April 2015). "Navštívili jsme nový stát Liberland, který v Evropě založil Čech Vít Jedlička. Podívejte se, jak to tam vypadá" (in Czech). Parlamentní Listy. Retrieved 20 April 2015.
  8. ^ a b McKirdy, Euan (25 April 2015). "Liberland: Could the world's newest micronation get off the ground?". CNN. Retrieved 25 April 2015.
  9. ^ a b c d e f Koulová, Zuzana (15 April 2015). "On to myslí vážně! Vít Jedlička, zakladatel nového státu Liberland, promluvil. Zavádí elektřinu, internet, všechno. A lidé se k němu hrnou" (in Czech). Parlamentní Listy. Retrieved 15 April 2015.
  10. ^ CZ: Liberland (video) (in Czech). Medium Europe. 15 April 2015. Retrieved 17 April 2015.
  11. ^ "International Boundaries Research Unit : Search - Durham University". Retrieved 17 April 2015.
  12. ^ a b "Čeh proglasio državu između Srbije i Hrvatske" (in Serbian). B92. BETA. 15 April 2015. Retrieved 15 April 2015.
  13. ^ Stroukal, Dominik (18 April 2015). "Několik nestrukturovaných poznámek k Liberlandu" (in Czech). Ludwig von Mises Institut - Česko & Slovensko. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
  14. ^ Bershidsky, Leonid (22 April 2015). "Don't Laugh Off Liberland". Bloomberg View. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  15. ^ Vojković, Goran (12 May 2015). "Liberland je Srbija!" (in Croatian). index.hr. Retrieved 14 May 2015.
  16. ^ a b Panenka, Radim (21 April 2015). "Je to smršť! Skoro nespím, osadníci se hrnou, noviny se předhánějí. My to prostě uděláme, slyšel plný sál od Víta Jedličky, zakladatele státu Liberland" (in Czech). Parlamentní Listy. Retrieved 21 April 2015.
  17. ^ "Police in the Balkans block inauguration of Europe's new "mini-state"". Associated Press. 9 May 2015. Retrieved 9 May 2015.
  18. ^ Spasojević, Vesna (17 April 2015). "Liberlend, zemlja koje - nema" (in Serbian). Radio Televizija Vojvodine. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
  19. ^ Trako, Evelin (26 April 2015). "POTRAGA ZA LIBERLANDOM Reporteri "Avaza" na ničijoj zemlji između Srbije i Hrvatske" (in Bosnian). Dnevni Avaz. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
  20. ^ Getto, Ivica (11 May 2015). "Osnivač Liberlanda kažnjen s 2400 kuna za ilegalni prelazak hrvatske granice" (in Croatian). Glas Slavonije. Retrieved 11 May 2015.
  21. ^ Wirnitzer, Jan (11 May 2015). "Jedličkova bitva u Moháče. Všichni nám tu fandí, říká tvůrce Liberlandu" (in Czech). iDnes. Retrieved 24 May 2015.
  22. ^ Ristić, Borislav (9 May 2015). "Vid Jedlička uhićen nakon ulaska na teritorij Liberlanda" (in Croatian). Večernji List. Retrieved 10 May 2015.
  23. ^ Třeček, Čeněk; Sedlářová, Barbora (10 May 2015). "Chorvatsko zatklo "prezidenta" Liberlandu. Bylo to přátelské, tvrdí Čech" (in Czech). iDnes. Retrieved 10 May 2015.
  24. ^ Hayden, Sally (11 May 2015). "President of Liberland Arrested for Trespassing into His Own Self-Declared Country". Vice News. Retrieved 11 May 2015.
  25. ^ Ristić, Borislav (11 May 2015). "Putovanje u Liberland zasad stoji 2400 kuna – tolika je kazna za ilegalni prijelaz granice" (in Croatian). Večernji List. Retrieved 12 May 2015.
  26. ^ "Croatia: Liberland's president arrested again". inSerbia. 17 May 2015. Retrieved 24 May 2015.
  27. ^ https://medium.com/@LSApress/renewed-aggression-in-croatian-occupied-liberland-84a6c0488558
  28. ^ http://www.vecernji.hr/hrvatska/igrali-odbojku-na-plazi-u-liberlandu-pa-ih-uhitila-hrvatska-policija-1010393
  29. ^ https://medium.com/@LSApress/official-press-release-liberland-settlement-association-f93491041226
  30. ^ https://www.facebook.com/LiberlandSettlementCorporation/photos/a.613468032122373.1073741829.609330502536126/627911907344652/?type=1&theater
  31. ^ Bradarić, Branimir (20 June 2015). "Liberland optužuje Hrvatsku za invaziju" (in Croatian). Večernji List. Retrieved 20 June 2015.
  32. ^ Hayden, Sally (19 June 2015). "Liberland Accuses Croatia of Invasion and Releases Video of 'Citizen' Abduction". Vice. Retrieved 20 June 2015.
  33. ^ Radisic, Danica (16 April 2015). "Liberland, the Balkans' Newest Micronation, Is Looking for Citizens". Global Voices Online. Retrieved 17 April 2015.
  34. ^ Nolan, Daniel (24 April 2015). "Liberland: hundreds of thousands apply to live in world's newest 'country'". The Guardian. Retrieved 24 April 2015. In the week since Liberland announced its creation and invited prospective residents to join the project, they have received about 200,000 citizenship applications – one every three seconds – from almost every country in the world.
  35. ^ Šimulija, Igor (6 May 2015). "Liberland, mikrodržava između Hrvatske i Srbije, dobio svoje prve državljane" (in Croatian). Telegram. Retrieved 6 May 2015.
  36. ^ "Liberland.org - Constitution". liberland.org. Retrieved 25 April 2015.
  37. ^ "Liberland.org - Laws". liberland.org. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
  38. ^ Tešija, Jelena (23 April 2015). "Svjetski mediji dosta ozbiljno shvaćaju onog tipa koji pokušava osnovati mikrodržavu na Dunavu" (in Croatian). Telegram. Retrieved 23 April 2015.
  39. ^ http://hu.mvep.hr/hu/hirek/on-virtual-narratives-at-croatia’s-borders,30113.html
  40. ^ Fayed, Hanan (23 April 2015). "Foreign Min. warns Egyptians against emigrating to Liberland". The Cairo Post. Retrieved 23 April 2015.
  41. ^ http://www.mzv.cz/jnp/cz/udalosti_a_media/prohlaseni_a_stanoviska/x2015_05_14_prohlaseni_mzv_ke_kauze.html
  42. ^ "Upozornění Velvyslanectví ČR k cestám do tzv. „Liberlandu"" (in Czech). Velvyslanectví České republiky v Záhřebu (Embassy of the Czech Republic in Zagreb). 15 May 2015. Retrieved 24 May 2015.
  43. ^ Swiss Independance Party (16 April 2015). "up! fordert Anerkennung der freien Republik Liberland" (in German). Retrieved 22 May 2015.
  44. ^ "Liberalistene med første landsmøte" (in Norwegian). Capitalist Party. 12 May 2015. Retrieved 12 May 2015.
  45. ^ http://www.parlamentnilisty.cz/profily/Petr-Mach-47661/otazka/Liberland-84886
  46. ^ http://www.p-lib.es/politica-exterior/el-p-lib-con-la-republica-libre-de-liberland/
  47. ^ Tvardzík, Jozef (21 April 2015). "V Európe vznikol nový štát Liberland. Založil ho Čech, chce skoncovať s byrokratickými opachami" (in Slovak). TREND.sk. Retrieved 23 April 2015.
  48. ^ Den Broeder G (2015). "Een basisinkomen voor chronisch zieken en mensen met een beperking". Sociaal Bestek. 77 (3): 34–36.
  49. ^ "Een eerlijke verdeling van welvaart". paraduin.nl. 17 May 2015. Retrieved 14 June 2015.

Notes

General sources

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Liberland.
 
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Liberland.
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