The Archives of Bosnia and Herzegovina issued a statement today in response to allegations in certain media outlets that archival material had been stolen from the institution.
“Regarding information published in recent days on various online portals concerning the alleged theft and removal of approximately 10,400 boxes of archival material from the Archives of Bosnia and Herzegovina—specifically the entire documentation of the Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as parts of the documentation of the Party of Democratic Action (SDA) and the Patriotic League of Bosnia and Herzegovina—we deem it necessary to respond publicly. This is to prevent the further spread of inaccurate and unverified information, to protect the reputation of our institution, and to provide the public with credible facts,” the Archives of Bosnia and Herzegovina stated.
They specifically emphasize that the archival material in question was never in the possession of the Archives of Bosnia and Herzegovina, was never stored in their facilities, and never formed part of their archival holdings or collections.
“Consequently, claims that this material was stolen or removed from the Archives of Bosnia and Herzegovina are entirely false, groundless, and highly malicious. This is not the first time our institution has been portrayed in a negative light based on unverified information; therefore, we will utilize all available legal mechanisms and remedies to protect the reputation and integrity of the Archives of Bosnia and Herzegovina,” the statement from the Archives concludes.
