Skopje, 15 November 2025 (MIA) – Justice and truth to come to light, who is accountable, who could have prevented it, which institutions failed to react on time and take measures ensuring that a tragedy of this scale happens never again, demanded the parents of the victims killed in the Kochani nightclub fire taking part in the 30th March for Angels, which was held Saturday in Skopje.

The protest march started in Macedonia square with protesters passing by the assembly and gathering in front of the Criminal Court.

Natalija Gjorgjieska, wife of Andrej, member of the hip hop duo DNK who died in the fire, addressed the march in front of the Macedonian Parliament.

“We don’t want pity and compassion, we want justice, we want the truth, a fair trial and a guarantee that families will never have to be woken up at night like the one we survived,” she said. 

No one, Gjorgjieska noted, is protected when institutions don’t do their job.

“This is not a political call, it’s a call coming from the heart for justice, for the truth and for humanity.”

“Dear members of Parliament, we demand that you initiate an oversight hearing before a competent parliamentary committee, as well as establish a special inquiry committee for a full and independent investigation into the tragedy because the loss is not a number, but a life. In this case, the right to life and safety of timely and effective action by institutions in a life-threatening situation had been violated. We demand that it be determined why the institutions failed to act on time. No one should live with the thought that someone could have been saved, but was not. No family should bear the pain that is a consequence of such a failure, negligence or inaction. We demand that the truth is established, where the failures occurred, who did not react, which institutions failed to act. Who had the duty to prevent, but did not do so,” she stated.

According to the parents and loved ones of the Kochani fire victims, the investigation remained incomplete and raised more questions without an answer.

“We, the families, doubt that the truth is concealed. An inquiry committee should make sure the facts come to light and probe the actions of all institutions from local to central level. A possible political or official accountability to be established and measures to come into effect that would guarantee that a tragedy of this scale happens never again,” Gjorgjievska said. 

March organizers said they are aware that the road to justice is long and difficult, paved with resistance and distorted intentions. “But if we all unite, the system will have no choice but to act the way the people want to.”

The trial for the deadly fire in Pulse nightclub in Kochani, which killed 63 people and left nearly 200 injured, will start on November 19. The case involves 38 defendants, including 35 individuals and three legal entities. Two hearings and week will take place with the first ones scheduled on November 19, 25 and 26.

The court announced it will enforce heightened security measures, including the presence of an emergency ambulance. The authorities called on the media to cover the trial in a dignified manner without sensationalism out of respect for the victims and all sides involved in the proceedings. 

Photo: MIA