Skopje, 13 April 2025 (MIA) - The Basic Prosecutor’s Office in Kochani has extended the investigation into the “Pulse” nightclub fire to include 19 more persons. All are suspected of committing “serious crimes against public safety” under Article 292 in connection with Article 288 of the Criminal Code. Prosecutors proposed detention for four suspects, house arrest with communication restrictions for six, and precautionary measures for eight more. One suspect was abroad when the investigation began, said Chief Prosecutor Ljupcho Kocevski during Sunday’s press conference with Interior Minister Panche Toshkovski.

“The newly suspected individuals include: three authorized construction inspectors in the Municipality of Kochani, three directors of the Protection and Rescue Directorate (in addition to one director already under investigation), one chief inspector at the same Directorate, three Ministers of Economy, three officials from the Ministry of Economy, two state secretaries in the Ministry of Economy, and four market inspectors from the State Market Inspectorate. The current Economy Minister is not included in the investigation, as there is no evidence so far that he was asked to extend the license for the “Pulse” nightclub in Kochani,” Kocevski said in response to a journalist's question.

He said 45 persons and three legal entities are under investigation. One person has since died, and proceedings against him will be dropped. Seven police officers are also being investigated.

He emphasized that the investigation will be carried out with maximum efficiency and will achieve the intended results.

“Over the past period, an expanded team of 13 prosecutors has been actively examining several lines of accountability in the fire that claimed the lives of 61 people, including six children, and left 197 others injured, 25 of whom were children. Alongside suspects with direct responsibility, such as the owners, event organizers, and club staff, authorities are also investigating institutions and officials whose illegal actions or failures enabled the “Pulse” nightclub in Kochani to operate for years without meeting legal or safety standards, endangering the lives of those who visited the venue. The legal norms and responsibilities for ensuring safety are clear, and they were adopted and must be respected precisely to prevent such disasters,” Kocevski said.

Alongside the three mayors of Kochani already under suspicion, the Prosecutor’s Office has raised doubts about the possible responsibility of three local building inspectors. They failed to inspect the facility, which had been illegally repurposed from an industrial building to a hospitality venue without safety standards.

An investigation within the Protection and Rescue Directorate has been opened for three other persons in the same role, including the current director, along with the general inspector who served throughout the club's entire operation.

Alongside the previously suspected Minister of Economy, state secretary, and three other senior officials, three new persons have now been suspected, who during a certain period of the club's operation held the position of Minister of Economy, two state secretaries, and three other officials in managerial positions responsible for the hospitality and tourism departments, who are under suspicion.

Regarding the State Market Inspectorate, the ongoing investigative actions, alongside the three persons already suspected, suggest reasonable suspicion against four more market inspectors who were responsible for ensuring the proper enforcement of applicable laws and regulations.

An investigation is also underway against seven police officers in the case initiated by the Basic Public Prosecutor’s Office for the prosecution of organized crime and corruption, specifically the Specialized Department for the prosecution of criminal acts committed by individuals with police authority and prison officers, in order to fully establish the line of responsibility, for which the public will be immediately informed.

“The Public Prosecutor’s Office, Interior Ministry and all involved institutions feel a strong responsibility toward the victims of this tragic event and the public to fully investigate it. The prosecution’s analysis of omissions is based on two principles: immediate omission (short-term, such as delayed response to a fire or failure to fix an issue causing immediate damage) and long-term omission (systemic deficiencies like repeated safety procedure failures leading to catastrophic consequences later),” as explained by the Chief Prosecutor regarding public concerns about the scope and responsibility of the investigation.

Kocevski noted that more actions, interrogations, and analyses are planned, stressing that the investigation will be highly effective and will provide all the answers expected from this tragedy.

Minister Toshkovski noted that in the process of clarifying the legal and criminal aspects of the case, the Ministry of Interior took a number of steps, demonstrating that the law applies to all offenders and ensuring that appropriate evidence was gathered.

"The citizens are able to make a distinction between what has been carried out so far and what was done in the past. We are showing that the law applies to anyone who violates it, and evidence will be secured. We cannot allow political games to influence this investigation or lead us away from conducting a lawful and professional inquiry. We will continue to take action against anyone for whom evidence is gathered," Toshkovski said.

When asked if individuals who are already retired would be included in the investigation, the Chief Prosecutor explained that there is no statute of limitations for this criminal act.

“Concerning the Ministry of Economy's jurisdiction, although full documentation for meeting the technical and safety standards of the Kochani facility was lacking, a license was granted. He noted that from the beginning, “Pulse” had never met the necessary requirements for a cabaret but operated as a nightclub, which influenced the number of guests who should have been present. Guest tickets were formally issued up to the venue's capacity of 240, but at the time of the incident, around 650 people were inside,” Kocevski said.

Evidence at the Protection and Rescue Directorate reveals that the key failures in assessing the responsibility and possible involvement of personnel from this institution lie within its leadership. Operational, technical, and preventive duties were neglected, and the municipality of Kochani was left without an authorized protection and rescue inspector.

Asked about the accusations from DUI that the investigation is focusing on members of a single political party, the Chief Prosecutor stressed that there is no selection in this matter, and the investigation is being carried out professionally.

He expects the requested measures for the 19 new suspects to be approved, as they are supported by evidence.

The investigation into the catastrophic fire case must be concluded within two months.

Photo: MIA