Skopje, 24 March 2025 (MIA) - Chief Prosecutor Ljupcho Kocevski has held a coordination meeting Monday morning with the public prosecutors conducting the investigation into the fatal fire in Kochani, expanding the prosecutorial team to now include 11 public prosecutors due to the scope of the actions being taken. They will act in the case in accordance with the adopted plan of activities and dynamics.

"Initial investigation plans indicate extensive activities that include questioning more than 300 witnesses, as well as other investigative actions and appropriate expert opinions in several areas. Public prosecutor Kocevski tasked the appointed prosecutors to conduct an efficient and thorough investigation that will examine in detail every aspect and line of responsibility for the tragedy in Kochani. Prosecutors in Kochani are taking actions through the day to secure evidence," the Public Prosecutor's Office said in a press release. 

This is the third expansion of the prosecutorial team conducting the investigation into the causes of the Kochani tragedy. Initially, on March 16, immediately after the Kochani nightclub fire, the public prosecutor set up a prosecutorial team that included five prosecutors from the Kochani, Shtip and Skopje public prosecutor's offices. A day later, the prosecutorial team was expanded to nine prosecutors and consisted of two public prosecutors from the Kochani Public Prosecutor's Office, two public prosecutors from the Shtip Public Prosecutor's Office, and five public prosecutors from the Skopje Public Prosecutor's Office.

Photo: MIA archive