Thirty-four individuals, including former ministers, have been indicted in connection with their alleged roles in the devastating nightclub fire in Kočani, North Macedonia, that claimed 62 lives in March. The Public Prosecutor’s Office announced the indictment, which now awaits approval from the Basic Court in Kočani.
Public Prosecutor Lupčo Kočevski stated in a press conference that those indicted include the club owner, former ministers, directors of the national directorate for protection and rescue, owners and members of a security agency, construction inspectors, and other officials.
The indictment targets “34 individuals and three legal entities for criminal offenses that caused great danger to people’s lives and bodies, as well as property,” Kočevski said.
Extensive Violations and Responsibility
Kočevski clarified that among the accused are five public employees from the Ministry of Economy, as well as two former ministers who had repeatedly issued licenses for the nightclub’s operation. He added that two other ministers are under suspicion but are not included in the current indictment due to insufficient evidence. The prosecutor did not reveal the names of the implicated former ministers or the currently suspected ones. However, four former Ministers of Economy – Bekim Neziri, Valon Saraçini, Driton Kuqi, and Kreshnik Bekteshi – had previously been arrested in connection with the Kočani fire.
Also among the accused are four directors of the directorate for protection and rescue who served since 2012, and the inspector general who led the State Security Service during that period. One of these directors, Shaban Saliu, currently serves as a minister without portfolio.
The prosecutor noted that no directors of the State Market Inspectorate are being prosecuted, as evidence indicated a different level of responsibility, leading to charges only against local inspectors. Additionally, three municipal construction inspectors and the owner of a company are among the accused.
Tragedy’s Aftermath and Ongoing Investigations
The fire broke out on March 16 at the Pulse nightclub during a hip-hop concert, injuring nearly 200 people. Fireworks lit during the concert are believed to have caused the deadly blaze in the crowded venue.
A team of prosecutors investigated the club’s entire operation since its opening in 2012. According to the indictment, almost all regulations for operating a nightclub were violated, including fire safety rules, security plans (such as insufficient fire extinguishers and emergency exits), and falsified permits for construction and reconstruction.
“All of them [the accused] had the power and legal competencies to prevent or reduce the possibility of loss of life, but no one did so,” the public prosecutor stated. “The deliberate disregard for safety procedures by many individuals and institutions contributed to extremely severe consequences and the inability to prevent the tragedy and save the lives of 62 young people.”
In a separate investigation led by prosecutors for combating corruption and organized crime, 13 police officers and other officials were arrested on Thursday. Weekly protests by the victims’ parents and relatives have gained momentum in recent weeks, demanding answers from authorities regarding why current police officers and officials have not been included in the investigations.
