Ramiz Nukić, who found hundreds of Srebrenica victims, formalizes cooperation with the Genocide Museum

SARAJEVO, (Patria) – The Museum of Crimes Against Humanity and Genocide today formalized cooperation with Ramiz Nukić, a returnee to Bratunac who has been collecting bones and artifacts in the area of Bratunac-Srebrenica, or Kameničko brdo, for years. So far, he has found about 260 remains, which were handed over to the Institute for Missing Persons of BiH. 

Nukić has already handed over some of the personal belongings he found, belonging to victims killed in July 1995, to the Museum, and today he also signed an agreement based on which he will receive a monthly compensation. 

The Museum Director, Suada Nožić, stated that the cooperation has been ongoing for two years. Ramiz was also presented with a lifetime achievement award today. 

„Ramiz brought new exhibits today that he collected in the past period. They will form part of the permanent museum exhibition in Sarajevo or Mostar. Ramiz is independently doing the work that our state should be doing. We want to encourage others to help Ramiz because today, despite having found 250 remains and personal items, he is unfortunately forgotten by everyone.“

Items that Ramiz handed over to the Museum today

Ramiz is one of the first returnees to the municipality of Bratunac. 

„I am happy that the Museum understood and invited me. I will not be indebted to them; I will strive to find more items. I returned to my beautiful Podrinje in 2000. When I returned, I tried to find the bones of my father and brothers. I am a survivor of the genocide, but I lost two brothers, my father, and my uncle. The desire drove me, and I decided to help the victims' families, and that's how I started searching for bones.“

The bones of Ramiz's father and brothers were found near Zvornik 20 years after the genocide and were buried in the Potočari cemetery. He last saw them in the column as they tried to reach the territory controlled by the Army of RBiH through the forest. The column was cut off by shelling, during which Ramiz lost sight of his father and brothers. 

Nukić stated that he will search for bones as long as he can. His grandson, Elvedin, often accompanies him into the forest, and the Museum gifted him four rabbits today. 

His grandson Elvedin also goes into the forest with Ramiz

The President of the Association of Camp Survivors of BiH, Jasmin Mešković, stated that the first ambush by the Army of Republika Srpska, or the attack, was 600 meters from Ramiz Nukić's house. Even today, during the search for bones and artifacts, they often find bombs in the forest, which they mark. 

Ramiz sometimes covers up to 40 km a day in search of bones, artifacts, and human fates. He says he is saddest when he cannot find a single bone.