On today’s programme we looked at the difficulties faced by people who live in countries that no one recognises.

Yes, it’s true, but did you know that close on 50 million people live in unrecognised countries?

And we’re not talking about some weird crypto places either.

No these are real places but their citizens often have issues such as unrecognised passports, problems with bank accounts, difficulties in receiving international post – all because the rest of the world does not acknowledge that the places they live in even exist.

Most are unable to eat a McDonald’s burger or visit an Apple store, because major corporations tend not to do business in unrecognised states.

So where are these states?

Palestine, Taiwan and Kurdistan are among the more prominent examples.

Some of those areas are relatively stable, with hospitals, taxes, schools and general society functioning far better than in ‘failed states’ like Afghanistan – but there are often major complications to everyday life.

Ahmet Sozen, the chair of political science and international relations at a university in The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, says that he has been accused of being an ‘illegal professor’ because of where he works.

The tiny statelet, separate to the Republic of Cyprus, has to have international post diverted through Turkey – the only country in the world to recognise it – using the code ‘Mersin 10’ on envelopes.

And though their passports are accepted in the UK and the USA, to visit anywhere else, residents of Northern Cyrpus have to apply for a Turkish passport – which does not make them a Turkish citizen, but does function as a travel document.

Prof Sozen was invited to the Italian Senate to talk about Turkish foreign policy on a panel, only for the Ambassador of the Republic of Cyprus to tell delegates that as a so-called professor from an illegal university based in an occupied country, his comments should be ignored.

He still receives invitations – ‘but has been told he should not use his affiliation’.

‘All of a sudden, you become an illegal professor,’ he said.

Yet Professor Sozen, 53, compares the territory favourably with many failed states, suggesting that it is generally a safe area in which to live and work but notes that all flights have to go via Turkey and they don’t have Apple, Pizza Hut or McDonald’s stores.

But, on everyday life, he does not see ‘huge differences’ and that many people have a very high quality of life, accompanied by an excellent climate.

One football team, Sheriff FC, is perhaps the biggest success story to come out of Moldovan sport – and even beat Real Madrid in the Champions League last year.

But, despite occasionally providing the national team with a home stadium, the club is actually based in the breakaway state of Transnistria (also known as Transdniestria).

It prints its own currency, only valid in the region and even plastic coins that collectors love – much like the exotic stamps made in Abkhazia, an area seen by most countries as part of Georgia.

Taiwan – considered by China to be part of its territory – remains by far the largest de facto state by population, with nearly 23.5 million people.

Professor Eiki Berg, of the De Facto States Research Unit (DFSRU) suggests that there are 14 or 15 areas in total and concedes that the information will always ‘remain contested’ because of the divisive nature of the areas’ status, and says some of the figures are estimates.

The Unit defines the list as including ‘entities which are not de facto controlling the territories they proclaim, or control the territory but operate more as a pawn of the patron state, or haven’t been able to establish fully-functioning institutions due to the ongoing warfare, or haven’t officially seceded but function as states-within-states.’

Generally speaking, people living in entities of pariah status suffer from political isolation: the absence of official bilateral representation and exclusion from inter-governmental organisations; economic isolation: sanctions aimed at restricting the flow of goods and services to and from the de facto state; and finally sociocultural isolation, which excludes contestants from sporting events or restricts its nationals’ ability to travel abroad.

‘Legally speaking, these entities do not exist.

‘As the chance to become a full-fledged state is not there, they continue their existence in limbo.’

Well I never!

In the second hour of today’s show we examined a very unusual demand for a ticket refund submitted by a couple in Hull they’ve demanded from a comedy club in Blackpool, which they feel they’re entitled to based on the fact that the Russian invasion of Ukraine has made their journey to Blackpool unsafe.

Really!

The owner of COMEDY STATION COMEDY CLUB, Ryan Gleeson said that the couple originally contacted them requesting a refund as they had Covid but when offered a ticket transfer, they then came up with the demand for ticket refund citing the military situation in Ukraine.

The demand reads as follows: –

My husband had a trip planned to Blackpool this weekend and we have got tickets to your (Saturday Night Laughs) show at 7.00 on the date above.

I spoke to someone called Rob (if that’s even his real name) asking for a refund for our two tickets which we paid IN FULL a few weeks ago.’Due to events in Russia and Ukraine it’s not safe for us to travel as we are both retired. Due to this it’s safer that we stay nearer to home until it’s sorted.

I told Rob that we wanted a refund and he said he would move tickets to another date but I DO NOT want that because I don’t know how long this will go on for. NO ONE KNOWS!!!

He referred me to your so called terms and conditions – which I did not read when I booked the tickets a few weeks ago like nobody does and nowhere in them does it say about no refunds FOR A WAR.

As it is not in your so called terms and conditions I am legally allowed a full refund and I will be taking this to trading standards if not refunded in 24 hours. I MEAN IT.

We cannot attend because of things beyond our control so you are instructed to arrange a FULL refund for BOTH tickets to be arranged on the debit card I used to buy the TWO tickets.

We have already lost money on train tickets and our bed and breakfast booking as they say we have just chosen to not go but this is just probably everyone in Blackpool sticking together to scam people during a war. DISGUSTING.

You are supposed to be a comedy store but this is NOT funny at all – have some respect.

My solicitor WILL be informed and I WILL report you to trading standards if you don’t pay me back within 24 hours.

Yours regards

Surely they must be having a laugh!

Hope to see you once again tomorrow,
Scott