• Thursday, 10 July 2025

Mickoski urges PPO to identify others responsible for Kochani fatal fire

Mickoski urges PPO to identify others responsible for Kochani fatal fire

Skopje, 11 June 2025 (MIA) - Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski has urged the Public Prosecutor's Office (PPO) to continue to identify other persons that could be responsible for the Kochani nightclub fire, which claimed 62 lives and about 200 injured.

PM Mickoski was quizzed by reporters on Wednesday about the owner of security agency "Rubikon", Aleksandar Nacev, who has been given a 30-day detention.

"Aleksandar Nacev was part of the VMRO-DPMNE government back in 2016-2017 as an appointed official, and that is all I know. I urge the PPO to continue with its work and act if they identify other persons that could be responsible for the horrific tragedy in Kochani. We will support them," said Mickoski.

Премиерот Христијан Мицкоски денеска изјави дека до моментов нема потврда дека ќе има средба на македонска и бугарска делегација на маргините на Самитот на НАТО во Хаг, овој месец, но напомен

The PPO хас said that based on evidence, Nacev is identified as the de facto owner and responsible person of the legal entity under investigation - Skopje-based security agency "Rubikon". The evidence indicates that he directed the business operations and overall functioning of the agency, in coordination with the previously charged manager and the authorized head of the agency’s Kochani branch.

“The suspects provided property and personal security services for the ‘Pulse’ nightclub in Kochani throughout 2025 without a formal contract with the client. The newly accused individual actively managed the planning and execution of the security services through the legal entity. Alongside other suspects engaged as security personnel, they operated in violation of several provisions of the Law on Private Security. No prior security assessment or formal security plan was conducted, nor was there a fire safety inspection or evaluation of evacuation procedures. On the night of the fire, they failed to control or restrict the entry of minors into the premises, did not monitor or limit overcrowding, and did not prevent the entry and use of explosive materials – specifically pyrotechnics used by members of the performing band – which triggered the fire. As a result, 62 people died, 157 sustained serious injuries, and 54 others were left with minor injuries,” according to the Prosecutor’s Office.

The investigation in the case has thus far identified 46 suspects.

Photo: MIA