Skopje, 13 April 2025 (MIA) – Chief Prosecutor Ljupcho Kocevski and Interior Minister Panche Toshkovski are expected to disclose further details Sunday at a press conference concerning the expanded investigation into the Kochani nightclub fire, the proposed legal measures, and the specific roles of each suspect involved in the case.

The Basic Prosecutor’s Office in Kochani has ordered the expansion of the investigation into the “Pulse” nightclub fire to include 19 more persons.

All are suspected of committing “serious crimes against public safety” under Article 292 in connection with Article 288 of the Criminal Code, the State Prosecutor's Office said late Saturday. The Ministry of Interior reported that, in coordination with the Basic Prosecutor’s Office in Kochani, criminal charges have been filed against the 19 persons.

“The new suspects include authorized construction inspectors from the Kochani municipality, directors and the general inspector from the Protection and Rescue Directorate, ministers of economy, state secretaries, and other officials from that ministry, as well as inspectors from the State Market Inspectorate. There are suspicions that their illegal activities and continuous failures allowed the “Pulse” nightclub in Kochani to operate as a hospitality venue from the beginning until the fire, without meeting the legal requirements and in violation of all safety rules, endangering the lives of those who visited the venue. The use of pyrotechnic devices during the March 16, 2025 concert by the music group DNK led to a fire that claimed the lives of 61 people, including six children, and left 197 others injured, 25 of whom were children,” as stated by the Public Prosecutor’s Office.

It was also announced that by the end of the day, the Basic Prosecutor’s Office in Kochani will submit proposals to the Basic Court in Kochani for the imposition of appropriate measures to ensure the presence of each of the newly suspected persons.

So far, 45 persons and three companies are under investigation by the Basic Prosecutor’s Office over the Kochani fire. One of the suspects died after the investigation began, from injuries caused by the fire. The Prosecutor’s Office said in a statement tonight that his case will be closed once all medical documents are collected.

The first suspects in the expanded “Pulse” fire investigation were brought to Kochani Prosecutor’s Office last night under police escort.

Photo: MIA archive