Skopje, 30 January 2026 (MIA) - Indictments have been filed against 13 police officers – four commanders and nine policemen – who were conducting an operation at the Pulse nightclub in Kochani on the night of the deadly fire which claimed the lives of 63 people and left over 200 injured on March 16, 2025.

According to a press briefing Friday with case prosecutor Ivana Aleksova Trajcheva at the Public Prosecutor’s Office for Organized Crime and Corruption, the 13 police officers are being indicted as co-perpetrators of grave crimes against general safety.

Part of the accused, acting under the plan for a police operation at the “Pulse” club in Kochani, on the critical night of March 16, 2025, failed to take appropriate measures to protect those present, nor did they act to prevent the activation of pyrotechnic equipment on stage, even though the use of pyrotechnics had not been reported to the Kochani police station.

The indictment was submitted to the Basic Criminal Court in Skopje on Friday. It is based on an investigation that looked into 27 police officers.

Security measures will remain in place for the accused until a decision is made by the relevant court. 

Thirty-five individuals and three legal entities are already facing trial for the nightclub fire. Among the defendants, charged with grave crimes against general safety, are venue owners, managers, inspectors, mayors, security personnel, and government officials. All of them pleaded not guilty at the start of the trial.

Photo: MIA