Icaria

  • Micronations
  • Founded 18 July 1912
  • Dissolved November 1912

During the early twentieth century the inhabitants of Icaria took advantage of the war in the Balkans and the declining power of the Ottoman Empire to declare the Free State of Icaria (Ελευθέρα Πολιτεία Ικαρίας, Elefthéra Politía Ikarías) on 18th July 1912. The neighbouring islands of Fournoi Korseon were also liberated and became part of the Free State. Ioannis Malahias (Ιωάννης Μαλαχίας) was the first and only president of the Free State of Icaria. The country enjoyed its freedom for five months until it was annexed by the Kingdom of Greece.

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Abkhazia

Abkhazia lies on the eastern coast of the Black Sea, flanked by Russia to the North and Georgia to the South. In 1990, just before the dissolution of the USSR, Abkhazia declared its sovereignty. This was not accepted by neighbor state Georgia nor the government in Moscow and led to an armed conflict in 1992 which lasted for 14 months. The Georgian troops were forced to leave Abkhazia and in 1994 a new constitution was drawn. It was adopted by popular referendum in 1999 after which Abkhazia once again declared its State Sovereignty. However, it was only after Abkhazian forces fought against Georgian forces during the Russo-Georgian War in 2008 that Abkhazia was formally recognized by Russia. It is also recognized as an independent state by Venezuela, Nicaragua, Syria, Nauru, South Ossetia, Transnistria and Nagorno-Karabakh. The Parliament of Georgia still considers Abkhazia as an autonomous republic within its territory.

Senkaku Islands

Three islets and five barren rocks are known in Japan as the Senkaku Islands, in China as the Diaoyu Islands and in Taiwan they are known as the Tiaoyutai Islands. Japan has controlled them since 1972, when they were handed over by the Americans, who had had administered them since 1945. Despite the political conflicts between China and Taiwan, both governments agree that the islands are part of Taiwan with Japan rejecting this. In 2014 the Hollywood documentary ‘Diaoyu Islands: The Truth’ was released to great acclaim in China.

North Dumpling Island

North Dumpling Island was bought for $2.5 million in 1986 by entrepreneur Dean Kamen, the founding father of the Segway Human Transporter. After a denial from local officials to build his own wind turbine on the island he decided to secede from the United States, and even got his friend, then president George W. Bush to comply. The island has its own flag, constitution, anthem and Dean Kamen did eventually build his own turbine, which along with several solar panels provides all the energy for the island.