Skopje, 18 July 2025 (MIA) - There is no truth in the allegations reported by some media outlets in relation to the meeting with the parents of the victims in the Kochani tragedy. A malicious distraction and abuse of their tragic fate is being carried out. The Government is here for the families, for everything they need and will always be with them even when they have different opinions on some issues, the Government said in a press release Friday.

The Government’s response comes after citizens’ association “16 March 2025 - Kochani” founded by the families of the victims of the deadly fire at the “Pulse” nightclub, accused the Prime Minister of insulting them at a meeting held on July 7. In a post on the association’s social media page, the families alleged the Prime Minister, among other things, told them in response to their request for financial assistance that “This request is the same as [opposition party] SDSM’s proposal, except you haven’t set a price. Name a price for your children”.

The Government said it regrets “the impression that some have received” and urged against “sensationalizing a meeting intended for support and condolences”.

“This was the second meeting with the families, and we would like to remind that, during the meeting, from beginning to end, the Prime Minister spoke and greeted everyone individually expressing his condolences as well as a series of other gestures and initiatives and things which out of ethical and humane reasons we sincerely do not wish to be subject to public discussion since they are intimate and deeply private,” the Government said.

It said the allegations are insulting and aim to cast a wrong impression of the Government’s intentions and actions.

“Reducing the discussion to ‘hello, how are you’ and ‘how much does it cost’ not only fails to reflect the true conversation and intent, but is also offensive and attempts to cast a completely misleading light on the Government’s intentions and actions, characterizing them as deeply inhumane, which is inappropriate and inaccurate,” the Government said.

In the press release, the Government once again expressed its condolences and support for the families, stressing it will always be there for the families.

“The Government will always be there for the families, and when it comes to our engagement and everything that depends on us, we will strive to ensure justice, and we will fight to provide some kind of comfort if that is possible. We will always back the families in their needs, demands and challenges. Because this is also our pain and sorrow, and those cannot be measured or compared, but are proven through the actions that we take and plan to take,” it said.

Photo: MIA