Skopje, 21 March 2025 (MIA) – As part of the ongoing investigation into the Kochani nightclub fire, which claimed the lives of 59 young people and injured around 200 other, the police and Prosecutor’s Office conducted an operation late Thursday to detain individuals suspected of involvement.
According to preliminary information, the former mayors of Kochani, Ratko Dimitrovski, Nikolcho Iliev and Ljupcho Papazov have been detained.

The Public Prosecutor’s Office stated that it will share details today about the police operation conducted by order of the Basic Prosecutor’s Office in Kochani.

Papazov was interrogated by a prosecutor at the Basic Prosecutor’s Office in Kochani on March 17, and the Prosecutor’s Office stated that a decision on his further status in the proceedings would be made later.

The prosecution team is expected to take the next steps, particularly due to expiration of the short-term detention measure imposed on 18 individuals in the preliminary investigation. Prior to detention of the three former mayors, the investigation activities had involved 28 individuals.

The Skopje-based Criminal Court ordered Wednesday a 30-day detention for seven police officers from Shtip and Kochani, suspected of grave crimes against general safety, related to issuance of compliances for the operation of the “Pulse” nightclub in Kochani. Officers, as officials at the Shtip and Kochani police, enabled the legal entity to acquire a license for a cabaret, by drafting, signing and providing a positive opinion, even though the building did not meet the legal conditions for that.

On Wednesday, police officers investigating organised crime searched the premises of the Municipality of Kochani to secure documents related to the nightclub. Searches were also conducted on two Ministry of Economy employees, seizing technical equipment, documents, weapons, and ammunition. The nightclub manager and responsible person were also searched. Among those detained are a former Minister of Economy and a former director of the State Market Inspectorate.

As stated by the Chief Prosecutor Ljupcho Kocevski, all the evidence concerning the nightclub "Pulse" indicates a criminal offense - grave crimes against public safety, punishable by up to 20 years in prison.

“The evidence we collect daily shows that the root cause is, in fact, a general erosion of the system, a culture of disrespect for the law and rules, and deep systemic corruption. Unfortunately, the Prosecutor's Office is not a body of prevention, but one of repression. Could this outcome have been avoided? Perhaps, I would say. But now it is up to us to face the consequences, hold those responsible for this disaster accountable, and prevent a similar tragedy from occurring again,” Kocevski said in an interview with Belgrade-based daily Politika on Thursday.

As he noted, a common feature of the tragic events we have encountered in recent years is that, in addition to the direct cause of the disaster, there is often an additional factor in the form of disrespect for the law and systemic corruption, which, he stressed, greatly increases the catastrophic consequences.

When asked whether the relevant authorities were notified about this event and whether they fulfilled their professional duties in relation to it, he said that everything will be checked as part of the investigation.

He said that the investigation will be swift, efficient, and comprehensive, and that those who, through negligence and disregard of their duties, bear part of the responsibility for the catastrophe, will also be held accountable.

All patients who are receiving treatment here and abroad are stable and in a good condition, most of them are improving. Out of a total of 20 critical patients, 10 are in a more serious condition, but they are stable and out of danger, Health Minister Arben Taravari told journalists Thursday.

Taravari said 62 patients are receiving treatment in the country and 111 abroad. Three of those being treated in the country were discharged on Wednesday, with an additional three patients expected to be discharged on Friday. The first patients from abroad are expected to return to the country by Monday.

Taravari stated that they will undergo toxicological analyses before being discharged for home treatment. Local doctors are receiving assistance from colleagues in Israel and the Czech Republic, while a team from the United Kingdom will help with the next stage of treatment.

Another three patients were transferred to Turkey on Thursday, and seven to Spain, which brings the total number of people injured in the fire receiving treatment abroad to 111."

On Thursday, the Ministry of Health also released the list of medical centers abroad where patients from the fire are being treated. The list includes centers in Serbia, Bulgaria, Slovenia, Croatia, Greece, Italy, Austria, Belgium, Lithuania, Turkey, Sweden, Hungary, and Poland.

As announced by the Health Insurance Fund director, Sasho Klekovski, the last transport with two injured individuals will be to the Czech Republic. He expected that the first fire pateints from Kochani receiving treatment abroad will return to the country on Monday.

The Red Cross of the Republic of North Macedonia said Thursday it has so far collected Mden 42.7 million (around EUR 700.000) of humanitarian assistance for the victims of the fire in Kochani and their families. The organization said it is continuing to collect humanitarian aid through all of its mechanisms.

“So far, we have collected a total of Mden 42.739.931 of funds intended exclusively to provide support for the victims of the fire in Kochani. We call on everyone to continue to demonstrate humaneness and solidarity in aiding the affected families,” the Red Cross said. Donations in Macedonian Denars can be made at the Red Cross account no. 300000001327966, tax no. 4030984271620 in Komercijalna Banka AD Skopje; by phoning 143 400 (Mden 100 donation per call) or online.

The fire at the “Pulse” nightclub in Kochani killed 59 people aged 16 to 48. Most of the victims are between the ages of 24 and 26, according to official data published by the Basic Public Prosecutor’s Office.

Six minors are among the dead – three 16-year-olds and three 17-year-olds. 

There are seven victims each at the ages of 24 and 26. Six of the people killed were 21, four were 18 and another four were 36. Three of the victims were 25. There were two victims each at the ages of 20, 23, 27, 31, 38, and 44, as well as one each at the ages of 19, 29, 32, 33, 43, 47, and 48.

Funerals for the victims are being held today in several cities in the country.

The deadly blaze broke out on Sunday during a concert by the band DNK. Most of the members of DNK were also killed in the fire.

Funerals for the victims of the fire at the “Pulse” nightclub in Kochani were held on Thursday in Kochani, Shtip, Obleshevo and Skopje.

Photo: MIA archive