As part of the ongoing investigation into the tragic fire in Kocani that claimed the lives of 61 people, authorities have detained several high-ranking political and state officials in North Macedonia.
Among those arrested are former Ministers of Economy Valon Saraçini and Bekim Neziri, as well as Shaban Saliu — the current Minister without Portfolio and former Director of the Directorate for Protection and Rescue. All three are affiliated with the Democratic Union for Integration (DUI).
Additionally, the current Director of State Security, Xhevat Selami, has also been detained, along with other officials linked to the VLEN coalition. The investigation has expanded to include 23 new suspects, 19 of whom have been arrested or are currently in custody.
Another person of interest, Driton Kuçi also a former Minister of Economy and currently North Macedonia’s Ambassador to Norway is outside the country and unavailable for questioning at this time.
The probe is focused on the period beginning in 2012 and centers on the Ministry of Economy and the State Security Service. Authorities suspect a possible causal link between past administrative decisions and the deadly fire that broke out on March 16 at the “Pulse” nightclub in Kočani. Anyone who held key positions, including Ministers of Economy and Directors of the State Statistical Office since 2012 — including the current director has been detained in connection with the case.
However, current Minister of Economy Besar Durmishi is not a suspect in the investigation. The Kočani Public Prosecutor’s Office continues to pursue the case surrounding this devastating fire, which has shocked the nation and left a tragic mark on its recent history.
