Liberland Honors Its Brightest Stars with the Order of Merit at its 11th Anniversary
At its 11th Anniversary celebration, the Free Republic of Liberland recognized a distinguished group of individuals from around the world with the Order of Merit, honoring their contributions to innovation, excellence, and the advancement of human potential in many fields.
The awardees represent a broad spectrum of achievement — from digital media and entrepreneurship to sports, spirituality and public service — reflecting Liberland’s commitment to celebrating those who embody freedom, creativity and initiative.
Federico Hu (Panda Boi)
Federico Hu (Panda Boi)
Among the honorees was Federico Hu, widely known as “Panda Boi,” a globally recognized social media wizard with over 62 million followers on YouTube and over 12 million followers on TikTok. Through his engaging and widely shared content, he has built a truly international audience and exemplifies the power of digital platforms to connect people across borders and cultures. A returning guest to Liberland, Federico conducted interviews and held an engaging presentation on how Liberland can increase its visibility and footprint.
“It’s really a dream here. You can cruise the beautiful Danube River here. You can network with some of the most influential people in the entire world. We also received the extraordinary opportunity to visit a secluded island and I had the honor to carry the Liberland flag. I finally got the Liberland passport. That’s also my dream!”
--Federico Hu
Joe Atkinson
Joe Atkinson
Joe Atkinson is an award-winning champion inline skater renowned for his speed, precision, and competitive achievements. His dedication to the sport and consistent excellence have earned him recognition within the international skating community - and he also designs his own skating equipment and clothing!
Liberland is working with Joe to build an Olympic-standard inline skating ramp at Ark Liberland Village and he performed an inline skating demonstration during the Anniversary.
“I came to Liberland through inline skating, but what stood out to me most was the ambition and openness of the people behind the project. As someone involved in the skate community, I found the focus on creativity, youth culture and new ideas refreshing. It was also a great honour to receive Liberland’s Order of Merit during the anniversary celebrations. My sincere thanks to President Jedlička and everyone involved for the warm welcome and hospitality.”
--Joe Atkinson
His Eminence Shyalpa Rinpoche
His Eminence Shyalpa Rinpoche
Shyalpa Rinpoche is a respected Buddhist monk and spiritual teacher, known for his work promoting compassion, mindfulness, and inner development. He has guided students around the world and contributed to intercultural dialogue through his teachings. He is founder of the Universal Peace Sanctuary in Lumbini, Nepal - the birthplace of Buddha. His Eminence is already exploring ways to work with Liberland so that we can bring this message of peace to the wider world using the synergies we already have.
“Life is very precious. Therefore, we must have freedom.”
--His Eminence Shyalpa Rinpoche
Senator Jaroslav Chalupský (Czech Republic)
Senator Jaroslav Chalupský
Jaroslav Chalupský is a member of the Senate of the Parliament of the Czech Republic. He is widely recognized for his environmental initiative to plant a tree for every vote he received—more than 18,000 to date —demonstrating a strong commitment to sustainability and civic responsibility. This year, Senator Chalupský bought 10,000 young oaks which he hopes to plant by September in coordination with schools and other organizations as part of the “Our Region Will Grow” initiative - Chalupský serves as Vice Chair of the Environment Committee of the Czech Senate and executes this responsibility seriously. Senator Chalupský visited Liberland and planted an oak tree at Mateos Marina during the Anniversary celebration.
The President and Foreign Minister visited Senator Chalupský in the Czech Senate in the week following the Anniversary to thank him for his attendance and discuss further cooperation.
“I have followed the story of Liberland from the very beginning, as I see it as a remarkable opportunity to create a place of freedom and friendship across nations. The atmosphere and the wonderful people I met during the 11th anniversary celebration only reassured me that you are on the right path — and walking it with the right, passionate individuals.”
--Senator Jaroslav Chalupský
Evan Luthra
Evan Luthra
Evan Luthra is a technology entrepreneur and innovator recognized in Forbes 30 Under 30. Known for his work in emerging technologies and startups, he has established himself as a leading voice among young global entrepreneurs.
Evan visited us for the first time and brought considerable attention to our events such as the boat trip aboard the Yacht House on the Danube River to Liberland.
“Standing on ground that was international no-man's land just 11 years ago, I saw wild nature and the unstoppable optimism of people who believe governance can be rebooted. There is still much to build, but the welcome was powerful proof that a borderless community can come together around shared values. I was deeply honored to receive Liberland's Order of Merit, the highest recognition the republic can bestow. Thank you, President Jedlička, for your trust. I accept on behalf of everyone pushing the vision forward. Freedom is the future. Let’s build it.”
--Evan Luthra
Barbara Carfagna
Barbara Carfagna
Barbara Carfagna is an Italian TV presenter and investigative journalist. She is an anchorwoman at Rai the Italian public TV broadcaster. She produces reports for TV7 and Speciale TG1, anchors TG1, and hosts the podcast Codicebeta for Rai Radio Uno.
For Rai1, she is the creator, writer, and host of CODICE, a program on digital societies filmed around the world. A columnist for Il Sole 24 Ore, she has also contributed to Il Foglio, Panorama, and Formiche, covering topics such as politics, economics, philosophy, and digital societies.
Ms. Carfagna delivered a rousing talk during the conference part of the Liberland Anniversary.
Ananda Yasin
Ananda Yasin
Ananda Yasin is a 22-year old German who currently lives in Indonesia. After operating a construction business, he is building an exciting YouTube channel known as The Jungle Boy, with survival training and extreme adventure content. He also runs a coffee export business called The Jungle Coffee.
Ananda heroically transported a significant amount of construction materials to Liberty Island and got some good hands-on experience on the ground and in the settlement. Ananda experienced some tense moments as he was detained by Croatian police for 15 hours then released - just for sleeping in a treehouse.
“Freedom is something you actively build, not something that is simply given to you.”
--Ananda Yasin
Together, these Liberlanders demonstrate diverse ways in which all of us can contribute to a freer, more dynamic and interconnected world. By honoring achievements across such varied domains, Liberland proclaims its broader vision: a society whose roots grow in the principles of voluntary cooperation, innovation and respect for individual initiative.
About the Order of Merit
The tradition of awarding national honors dates back to antiquity, when states recognized outstanding achievement, service, and bravery. Over time, these distinctions became formalized as orders and medals, reflecting a nation’s highest values.
Founded on April 13, 2015, Liberland draws inspiration from the principles of freedom, free markets, and individual liberty. The Order of Merit recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to these ideals, to the development of Liberland, or to the advancement of liberty more broadly.
Officially known as the First Class Order of Merit of the Star of Liberland, the award was established in 2016. It is symbolized by an eight-pointed star bearing the national seal, suspended on a yellow and black ribbon.
The Order is awarded across a wide range of fields, including public service, entrepreneurship, culture, humanitarian work, and innovation. Recipients are selected by the Government of Liberland, and the award is conferred by the President, who serves as Grand Master of the Order, typically during a public ceremony.