New York man creates own 'sovereign nation' in Utah

In a four-acre piece of land in Utah, a New York man is building his own 'sovereign nation' called Republic of Zaqistan, complete with a national flag, a robot sentry that guards the land and official passports.
Zaq Landsberg bought the land online in northwestern Box Elder County a decade ago.
"The conceptual goal is I want it to become a real country. I mean, that goal is not going to happen. It's impossible, but going through the motions, (I'm) trying to make that happen," Landsberg said.
The "harsh and desolate" land is known to Landsberg as the Republic of Zaqistan, and he is its president.

The land is roughly 96 km from the nearest town, 24 km away from a paved road.
Zaqistan has its own flag, a border patrol gate, a supply bunker, a robot sentry that guards the land and even official passports, 'KSL-TV' reported.

The passports can be stamped when entering and exiting the land.
Landsberg knows it is not a legitimate country recognised by others, but as an art project, he is interested in seeing how far he can push the boundaries of land ownership and sovereignty.
Landsberg said one of his goals is to make his 'soverign nation' look legitimate.

He has even created a motto for the land of Zaqistan: "Something from nothing."
Landsberg pays property taxes to the county, though he refers to them as "tributes" to keep relations friendly.