Skopje, 24 March 2025 (MIA) - This is not a fight between you and us, this is not a fight between political parties, this is a fight between the honest and the corrupt. We want systemic change – but meaningful change, not cosmetic. And while they fill their pockets, we will fill the streets, and we will continue to do so until we see real change, was the message sent at Monday’s protest in Skopje held by the “Koj e sleden?” (Who is next?) citizens’ movement in the wake of the nightclub fire in Kochani.

Protesters called for justice and accountability.

“We are gathered here because of pain, injustice and tragedies that could have been prevented if the institutions did their jobs, if those responsible accepted responsibility and if corruption wasn’t accepted as a normal occurrence. We are here to pay our respects to the victims, but we aren’t here just to grieve, we are here because we want change, not cosmetic, not temporary, but real, meaningful, systemic change. We often tend to forget, and a nation that forgets risks having its tragedies repeated. As of tonight, we say we shall no longer forget, there will be no silence and no fear anymore. The institutions are afraid when honest people come together, when the citizens seek justice, accountability and a new beginning, when they say – let's start from zero,” said Blendi Hodai, one of the participants in the protest in a speech in front of the Government. 

Hodai said the citizens demand “zero tolerance for corruption, zero silence in the face of injustice and when the institutions fall short”.

“We owe it to all the victims and to all who have lost, to everyone who was a victim of a system that kills instead of protecting. We will either make this country work for everyone or it will continue to be captured for the few,” Hodai underlined.

Protesters stressed the need to create a “safe country”.

“The goal is not only to seek accountability, but to finally create a safe country. Those responsible must be held to account – everyone responsible for the tragedies. It is time for solutions, to stop looking for culprits. The system is next,” said Angela, a student who participated in the rally.

The protest with three minutes of silence, laying flowers and lighting candles at Macedonia Square. Protesters then proceeded to walk past the building of Parliament, which they booed, and past the city hospital where they paid their respects to the medical workers by applauding and chanting “you are heroes”. The crowd also booed the Government building before holding 16 minutes of silence in honor of the victims.  

“Justice”, “murderers”, “we are not afraid”, “accountability”, “no justice, no peace”, “resignations from the entire Government”, “the system is next”, “we’ve had enough death” were some of the chants that could be heard at the protest. 

The protest was held in the wake of the fire at the “Pulse” nightclub in Kochani that killed 59 people and left over 150 injured on March 16. 

Photo: MIA