Skopje, 12 March 2026 (MIA) — Parents of victims killed in the March 16 fire in Kochani expressed disappointment Thursday after a state commemorative session at Parliament failed to individually name their children one year after the disaster.

The families, who gathered for the commemoration organized by the government, said the brief ceremony offered little comfort for the loss of 63 lives.

"We expected and hoped that when we came here, they would pay tribute to our children, but they never did," Gabriela Naunova said. Her daughter, Nadica Naunova, was among the dead. 

"A national commemoration for 63 victims with only two pages of reading is a big blow for us. We didn't expect this. It is another deep wound," Naunova said.

Aleksandar Naunov, Nadica’s father, said the lack of personal acknowledgment was devastating.

"We expected them to devote at least two minutes to each child, but unfortunately, none of the children were honored by name," he said. 

According to the victims' families, the official event was long overdue. "This act is very late," Naunov said, adding that the parents also felt the session was "forced" by their own persistence. 

Recalling remarks made by Parliament Speaker Afrim Gashi regarding institutional responsibility, Naunov said the families were calling for swift legal accountability and "true justice." mr/