Skopje, 3 April 2025 (MIA) - The Interior Ministry did not file a single criminal charge for the tragedies at the modular hospital in Tetovo, the bus accidents in Laskarci and in Bulgaria, while the current Ministry has filed two criminal charges for the fire in Kochani involving 34 people, 31 of who are in detention – they are members of SDSM, VMRO-DPMNE, DUI, and none of them are in this procedure because they are or aren’t a member of a certain party, Interior Minister Panche Toshkovski said at a Q&A session in Parliament on Thursday.

Toshkovski responded to questions by SDSM’s MP Mile Talevski in relation to the fire in Kochani and accusations of selectiveness in the investigation. In his response, the Minister accused Talevski of “manipulating the public with facts that are false” in order to profit politically from the anger of the Macedonian citizens. Opposition MPs also urged Toshkovski to resign for moral reasons.

“In this case [Kochani] the Interior Ministry has so far processed two criminal charges against 34 natural persons of which 31 are currently in detention where there are SDSM members, VMRO-DPMNE members, DUI members, and none of them are in this procedure because they are or are not a member of a certain political party but because, so far, evidence has been secured that shows grounds for suspicion on the basis of which the criminal charges can be processed. 34 natural persons and three legal entities so far,” Toshkovski said. 

The Minister stressed the investigation is underway and it remains to be seen how many people will be involved after all processes are concluded by the Prosecutor’s Office and the Interior Ministry. 

The SDSM MP quizzed the Minister about why the investigation doesn’t include officials who were on duty on the night of the fire and did not take any preventative or protective measures at the nightclub, including Tomo Donev, the chief of the crime police in Kochani, who, according to the MP, was close to VMRO-DPMNE. Talevski showed a photograph depicting the police chief at a VMRO-DPMNE office. 

Toshkovski said the Ministry is already conducting a disciplinary procedure against Donev. 

Photo: Screenshot