Molossia

  • Micronations
  • Founded 1977
  • Area 0.0053 km²
  • Motto Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained

Originally founded in 1977 as the Grand Republic of Vuldstein, The Republic of Molossia is a micronation run by Kevin Baugh. It lies just outside Virginia City, Nevada in the western United States. It is run humorously as a dictatorial banana-republic with Baugh operating as president. Kevin Baugh continues to pay property taxes on the land although he calls it ‘foreign aid’.

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Northern Cyprus

The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (Turkish: Kuzey Kıbrıs Türk Cumhuriyeti), is a de facto state that comprises the northeastern portion of the island of Cyprus. It unilaterally declared independence in 1983, and is recognized only by Turkey. A buffer zone under the control of the United Nations stretches between Northern Cyprus and the rest of the island and divides Nicosia, the island's largest city and capital. Attempts to reach a solution to the Cyprus dispute have been unsuccessful. The Turkish Army maintains a large force in Northern Cyprus.

Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico became a US territory following the Spanish-American War in 1898. In 1899, Hurricane San Ciriaco left the island in ruins and the US stepped in granting large loans, buying up most of the farmland leaving Puerto Rico indebted and dependent. Today, following the devastation of another hurricane, Puerto Rico finds itself with a collapsing economy, destroyed infrastructure, and a crisis of sovereignty. It’s not its own state, nor is it one of the United States. Puerto Ricans can be drafted into the US military but have no meaningful representation in the US government, and are not protected under the Bill of Rights. After failed attempts at independence via both congressional voting and violent uprising, the island is divided. A little over half want full US statehood, and the remainder want either full independence or to continue the current arrangement.

Hakkelaarsbrug

Hakkelaarsbrug is a hamlet in the Netherlands, part of the municipality of Gooise Meren. It has approximately 100 inhabitants and consists of two streets, the Googweg and Naarderstraatweg, and a drawbridge. When complaints to the local government about never-ending construction works fell on deaf ears, one of the inhabitants decided to take action: on 22 July 2017, Cees van Apeldoorn declared the independence of the Free Republic of Hakkelaarsbrug. The micronation has a passport, banknotes, postage stamps, its own flag and a national anthem. It also has its own White House where meetings are held. However, there are no political parties—in fact, politics are banned completely.