Prosecutor’s Office: “Pulse” nightclub started operating without meeting the minimum technical requirements

The trial over the fire at the “Pulse” nightclub in Kočani is continuing today in the “Idrizovo” courtroom, a tragedy in which 63 people lost their lives and more than 200 others were injured, while the Prosecutor’s Office is presenting material evidence.

According to the Prosecutor’s Office, evidence secured from the Ministry of Economy and Labour, specifically from the Tourism and Hospitality Sector, was submitted at the hearing. It concerns the circumstances under which the venue began operating, although it had not fulfilled the formal and essential conditions, as well as the minimum technical requirements necessary for operation.

Prosecutor Natasha Saramandova presented some of this evidence before the court, including a request dated October 10, 2012, submitted by owner Dejan Jovanov for obtaining a cabaret license.

During the hearing, the defense requested that the evidence be read from the section of mandatory documents attached to the request, but the Prosecutor’s Office replied that the evidence has never been read in its entirety and that it cannot be read word for word.

As the Prosecutor’s Office pointed out, the request itself clearly shows that it refers to an address on Dimitar Vlahov Street bb, where the headquarters of Klasik M is located, while at that time there was no registered branch there. Also, according to it, all the fulfilled conditions had been verified, with the exception of the part concerning the provision of a sufficient number of emergency exits for 200 visitors.

The fire at the “Pulse” nightclub in Kočani broke out on March 16, 2025, during a performance by the group DNA, and is considered one of the most serious tragedies in the country’s recent history. The trial is being led by Judge Dijana Gruevska-Ilievska, while the Prosecutor’s Office is represented by a team of 15 public prosecutors.