June 28, 2018

Anybody can now become a citizen of Asgardia – “the space state,” founded by a billionaire. Its establishment was first declared in 2016. Now this country has its elected leader, and anybody may apply for citizenship by simply visiting its website. Soon after Trump declared establishment of “space troops” the young space of Asgardia made an announcement about its leader, who was a Russian scholar and billionaire Igor Ashurbeyli. Despite the fact that Asgardia has no land territorie on the Earth, it already has about 200 000 citizens, who signed up for joining the country via Internet, also it has ambitious plans to launch accommodation to low near Earth orbit and construction of settlements on the Moon. At the exuberant ceremony on Monday, the newly elected leader of the Nation Ashurbeyli, who had founded the state announced - “We have established all branches of the nation. I can declare that Asgardia has been born.”

The new “country” was named after Asgard, space city in Scandinavian mythology, the residence of Gods. It has everything for a state to function: its constitution, flag, hymn and elected representatives, in addition, for forming its economy, the country is working on use of new crypto currency SOLAR. With regard to its relations with the Earth, Mr Ashurbeyli said that they are planning to make the country self-supporting.

“Asgardia will develop its infrastructure, which will not depend on land surface systems, - he says. – The Asgardians will have handheld devices with integrated passports, credit cards, and traditional smartphones.”

Although the state has no land territory, several astonishing concept-art images are published on their Instagram account and website.

Obviously, Mr Ashurbeyli is trying to balance between complete separation from the Earth states and the plan to become some sort of an abstract space friend for all. On the other hand, he is lobbying access to the space as a right of a human, denying that this is a privilege, which may be limited by countries on the Earth, and thus bypassing the Outer Space Treaty: “We believe that it is necessary to establish a new legal platform for near earth and deep space to be in line with the galloping technological and scientific expansion outside our planet, - says the Asgardian leader. – A Universal Space treaty and astropolitics must replace existing out-dated international space treaties and geopolitics.”

On the other hand, Mr Ashurbeyli hopes that Agardia will be recognised a sovereign state: “Asgardia will be trying to get recognition as an independent state by way of bilateral agreements with maximum possible number of countries, also by way of joining international governmental and nongovernmental organisations. Some of most altruistic plans of Mr Ashurbeyli include making available global internet and access to Asgardian technology, also establishment of a fleet for protection of the Earth from asteroids. In the end, the head of the space state sees Asgardia not only a country, but also the next step in human development: “Outer cosmic space has no limits, and space research work will enable Homo sapiens to become immortal as a species.” Should you decide to become a citizen of Asgardia, you can apply right away at the website of the country. Mr Ashurbeyli is assuming passing an IQ-test would be a mandatory requirement. Taking into account some events that are in process on the Earth, it is not a bad idea at all.

Translated into Englisc by Muhiddin Ganiev 

http://www.newsweek.com/asgardia-worlds-first-space-nation-inaugurates-head-state-994555

https://asgardia.space/en/page/media