Kočani marches again for justice: Parents demand accountability for 63 lives lost at “Puls”

Citizens of Kočani and relatives of the victims of the tragedy at the “Puls” nightclub gathered today for the 47th time in the protest march “March for the Angels.” They stressed that this is not merely a judicial matter, but a catastrophe that took 63 human lives, wounded 218 others, and plunged the entire city into grief.

The protest started from Revolution Park and headed first toward the Kočani Municipality building, where the offices of the State Market Inspectorate are also located. Then the crowd continued their march past the State Labour Inspectorate, the Public Revenue Office, the Kočani police station, and the court building.

In front of each institution, parents and citizens raised their voices to demand explanations for the negligence and inaction that, in their belief, paved the way for the tragedy.

Aleksandar Naunov, speaking before the Court in Kočani, posed a series of questions about institutional failures. “In front of the Municipality we asked about the omissions and inaction that led to the tragedy. In front of the State Labour Inspectorate we asked how it is possible that not a single inspection was carried out in 13 years. In front of the Ministry of Interior we asked why the lives of citizens were not protected,” he declared.

He continued by also directing questions at the State Market Inspectorate, the Directorate for Protection and Rescue, the insurance company of the facility, and the owner of the club, demanding accountability for the failures that, according to him, resulted in the loss of lives. Naunov underlined that the judicial process is not an ordinary trial, but a “test for justice and citizens’ trust in the institutions.”

“From the Court we do not expect decisions driven by pressure. We want a decision based exclusively on facts, evidence, law, and conscience. Your decision will not bring back our children, but it can prove that in this country no one is above the law and that human life is the supreme value,” Naunov stated.

The parents stressed that their demand for justice does not stem from revenge, but from responsibility toward the victims and future generations, with the sole purpose that a similar tragedy never happens again.