Skopje, 18 March 2025 (MIA) – A pre-trial judge ordered that former economy minister Kreshnik Bekteshi, former director of the State Market Inspectorate, Goran Trajkovski, and twelve other people should be put in 48-hour detention over the fire that broke out in the early hours of Sunday in Kochani, killing 59 people.

“The Kochani Court accepted the motion of the prosecution after proposing the measure of a short-term detention for all 14 suspects. A short-term detention lasting 48 hours was ordered,” the Kochani Basic Court told MIA on Tuesday.

On Monday, Chief State Prosecutor Ljupcho Kocevski said 14 people are suspected of the crime "severe acts against general safety" after the Kochani nightclub fire that claimed 59 lives and left 155 injured. Prosecutors are also investigating allegations of giving and taking bribe, as well as illicit procurement of stage pyrotechnics.

Kocevski said nine prosecutors are working intensively to secure evidence in the case, with searches also carried out in the Ministry of Economy and two other sites in Skopje.

Three people, including former economy minister Kreshnik Bekteshi, former director of the State Market Inspectorate, Goran Trajkovski, were brought in for questioning by the police at the Kochani prosecutor’s office last night. Kochani Mayor Ljupcho Papazov, who resigned yesterday, was also brought in for questioning. A decision on his status in the proceedings is due to be made, said the prosecution.

The investigation carried out so far by the authorities revealed the nightclub had no fire hydrant network and not enough fire extinguishers and pyrotechnics were used illegally. Also, the nightclub didn’t even have a legal operating license, and the concert organizer and the band hadn’t signed a written contract.

MIA file photo