Kochani, 1 June 2025 (MIA) – Families of the victims in the tragic fire at the 'Pulse nightclub staged the eighth protest march in Kochani on Saturday with the message "We have nothing more to lose, but you still have something to fight for". 

The march began from the Park of the Revolution towards the shopping center and the Kochani Municipality building, and the citizens then proceeded towards the town's police station, the Court and the Prosecutor's Office, stating that they will persist in demanding justice for their loved ones. 

In front of the Prosecutor's Office, the parents reacted to the fact that the number of suspects has been reduced from 73 to 46 people, while most of those who should be held accountable have not been summoned for questioning, nor are they suspects. They pointed out that during the period of pain and grief they were forced to study the legal norms and regulations so as not to be manipulated, and they will publish all the information they have gained on a joint profile on social networks.

"It has been documented and confirmed that the 'Pulse' nightclub operated illegally, but you close your eyes to the failures of the institutions that are publicly available and obvious. Was violation found during a Public Revenue Office control, because there is no lease agreement and payment of rent through a folio issued through the electronic system. The Ministry of Economy and Labour had the information in the electronic system that the 'Pulse' nightclub's license had not been renewed. In the register of issued licenses for hospitality operators, published in August 2024, "MMMM Cafe - Club Pulse" - Kochani is included among the approved licenses for one year, and it received it on February 15, 2023. Why did the State Market Inspectorate fail to conduct a control for a license that is invalid? The ministers, inspectors and employees of the inspectorate are not among the suspects of illegal operations, and although it was announced, there is still no answer why the licenses have not been revised," said the parents. 

They noted that they will continue their investigations and will play the role of the Public Revenue Office and other competent institutions, especially given that the 'Pulse' nightclub was allowed to operate with a blocked account for as long as 217 days, and during the controls it has been found that no fiscal receipts had been issued.

"In addition to the obligation of the Ministry of Interior to grant approval that the facility meets the requirements on protecting public order and peace, on traffic safety and the like, it had an obligation to check working hours, volume and noise requirements, any pyrotechnics in the facility, presence of minors and underage drinking, as well as check for narcotic substances. On that fateful evening, all these legal articles were violated, and there has been no answer whether the pyrotechnics were purchased by a legal or natural person, whether there was approval and whether it was recorded in the court register. Police officers who were on official duty were present in the nightclub, but were they summoned for questioning? Replacing heads of police departments is not enough," the parents added. 

At the eighth ‘March for the Angels’ in Kochani, the parents said they remain persistent in demanding non-selectivity in the procedure, and if they do not get justice before the judicial authorities in their own country, they will spread the truth internationally.

Photo: MIA