Jedlička: Liberland is a startup bringing radical innovation in the arena of nation states.

The Liberland project has reached its 5th anniversary this year. On this occasion, we are bringing special interview with the President of Liberland, Vít Jedlička. Liberland is a new free state that seeks international recognition and continues to try to establish itself in the territory between Croatia and Serbia, which the project claims for itself.

INTERVIEW WITH VÍT JEDLIČKA, PRESIDENT OF LIBERLAND, July 2020

Free Reporter Magazine: What do you think has succeeded in the 5 years of the Liberland project existence and what are you satisfied with? Conversely, what has failed in 5 years and what bothers you the most today?

Mr. Jedlička: We have built a robust diplomatic and business network around the world. Liberland today is not just a separated network of individuals but a sophisticated network of humanitarian, business and diplomatic interests. On the other hands I wish our relations with Croatia were moving faster forward. Luckily latest elections there open a lot of new opportunities.

The Liberland project has entered over 5 years of existence. Has this project really made it possible to improve or strengthen some basic freedom for a group of people? Can you specify this group? In what aspects has Liberland managed to improve or increase freedom? 

Recently looking at the most common occupations in Liberland we found out that international tax advisors, pilots and crypto entrepreneurs are the most common occupations in Liberland. Especially crypto entrepreneurs like Nikolas Nikolajsen, Roger Ver or Vitalik Buterin are the people defining the shape of world finance. They are moving us to a radically more free world without currency manipulation of central banks.

Liberland talks about creating a „Free trade zone“ (FTZ). Where exactly is this FTZ located? What are the benefits or will it bring and for whom? What must a company meet that wants to use this FTZ?

Free Trade Zone is located in Apatin. It is one of the 14 special economic zones created in Serbia. The Apatin Free trade zone is special as it is also a base for Liberland companies that can also enjoy all the benefits. The biggest two advantages are no customs and no VAT taxes. Liberlanders and citizens can register Liberland companies under 24 hours (*) and get their business going the next day. And it is not just VAT tax and customs but also very affordable cost of energies and workforce.

What is the guarantee that a company operating in this Free trade zone (for example, a business company established in the Czech Republic) will not be criminalized for violating the tax / customs laws of the Czech Republic?

There is no such problem. Free trade zones are an existing part of the world economic ecosystem. Nevertheless I would advise Czech company to form a Liberland subsidiary.

In your anniversary speech, you have spoken of Liberland as a start-up nation. Does this mean that Liberland considers itself a start-up company with similar commercial goals to the classic corporate start-up?

There has been very little innovation introduced in governance of traditional nation states in the last century yet the world has changed enormously. From this perspective Liberland is a startup bringing radical innovation in the arena of nation states.

You have also spoken about the success of other microstates … Can you state which successful microstates he had in mind and what exactly is their success?

Singapore, Lichtenstein, Monaco or Hong Kong are not only the freest places in the world but also the most prosperous countries. There is a direct relation with the degree of freedom granted to companies and citizens and prosperity and happiness.

Why is Liberland preparing a new constitution? Does this mean that the current one has not worked? What’s new in the new constitution of the Liberland project? And to whom?

We are combining our constitution with latest blockchain technologies namely EOS (**). It requires some changes in the original structure of governance. We want to be first country full operation all of its basic function on a transparent blockchain system

What was the benefit of setting up Liberland representative offices in more than 100 countries? Are the costs of setting up and running these offices commensurable with their benefits? How much did it cost to create and operate these offices?

Most of the missions are honorary, which means that bear no cost for Liberland budget. Liberlands diplomatic network now spans across the globe and it is represented today in a similar way like other european countries. Our diplomatic presence globally is essential for the successful recognition process of Liberland.

What is the current situation in the locality, which Liberland describes as its territory, ie the territory located between Croatia and Serbia on the west bank of the Danube? Can people connected with Liberland enter this territory without being detained by the police?

Yes, people can safely visit Liberland by taking a boat trip from Apatin, our Serbian base harbor, yet special procedures have to be followed to avoid any problems. I have been myself in Liberland on two occasions last week.

When do you think Liberland will be able to gain unquestionable territory for the new state? Is the acquisition of such territory still the goal of the Liberland project?

The Free Republic of Liberland is still the only entity claiming the territory of Liberland from this perspective there is territorial dispute with anybody. Yet there is still a lot of diplomatic work ahead of us to stabilize relations with our neighbor Croatia.

(*)…(http://companyregister.ll.land)

(**) …Calling itself the most powerful infrastructure for decentralized applications, EOS is a blockchain-based, decentralized system that enables the development, hosting, and execution of commercial-scale decentralized applications (dApps) on its platform.

Blockchain is a system of recording information in a way that makes it difficult or impossible to change, hack, or cheat the system.

Liberland project: Official information from Liberland:

„The Free Republic of Liberland is a sovereign state located between Croatia and Serbia. Liberland is a constitutional republic with elements of direct democracy. The state has two Vice Presidents and five Ministers. The language is English. The liberland Merit is the currency of Liberland. The country’s motto is: To live and let live.“