The next hearing in the trial of 13 police officials accused of serious offenses against public safety in connection with the tragedy at the Pulse nightclub in Kočani did not take place as planned. The Basic Criminal Court in Skopje decided to postpone it.

The postponement was caused by the absence of the summoned witnesses. The court explained that some summonses had been improperly served or marked “did not request,” while for other witnesses there was no proof that the notices had been delivered to them.

Prosecutor Spasenka Andonova said that one of the witnesses had confirmed by phone that he had received the summons, but had stated that he would appear only if transportation to Skopje was provided.

Judge Fanka Jančuleva-Mihailovska announced that the summonses for the next hearing would be sent through the police station. She warned that if the witnesses were absent again, the measures provided for by law would be used, including fines and compulsory appearance. The next hearing will be held on September 21.

After the hearing, Dragi Stojanov, the father of Panče Stojanov, criticized the repeated postponements and called on the court to apply all available mechanisms.

He also said that the victims’ families were facing pressure from lawyers over the statements they make publicly.

“The lawyers are threatening to bring criminal charges against us for what we are saying about them. We will recommend that, before bringing criminal charges, they think carefully, put themselves in our place for 10 minutes and think about how they would feel if it were their child. If they think that through criminal lawsuits they will get money from me, that is what they will get,” Stojanov said.

Stojanov announced that a march would be held on Wednesday to mark a year and a half since the tragic event.

“Let people come and support us. By supporting us, they are supporting the effort to prevent such a tragedy from happening again, since the children were allowed to enter the nightclub in the hope that they would return safely,” he said.

The trial centers on the fire that broke out on March 16 at the Pulse nightclub in Kočani, where 63 people lost their lives and more than 200 others were injured.

According to the indictment, the police officials who were on duty at the nightclub did not stop the party and did not prevent the use of pyrotechnic devices./Telegrafi/

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The hearing scheduled today at the Basic Criminal Court in Skopje against 13 police officers accused of serious offenses against public safety in connection with the tragedy at the “Pulse” nightclub in Kočani did not take place.

The proceedings were postponed because the summoned witnesses were absent. The court said that some summonses had apparently been delivered improperly or marked “not requested,” while for several other witnesses there was no evidence that they had received them.

Prosecutor Spasenka Andonova said that one of the witnesses had confirmed by phone that he had received the summons, but had said he would appear only if transportation to Skopje was provided.

Judge Fanka Jançuleva Mihailovska announced that the summonses for the next hearing would be sent through the police station. She warned that in the event of repeated absences, legal measures would be used, including fines and mandatory detention. The next hearing will be held on September 21.

Dragi Stojanov, the father of Pançe Stojanov, expressed outrage after the hearing over the repeated postponements and called on the court to use all available means.

“We recommend that the court, despite the fact that the witnesses were not brought in, summon them properly, call them and contact them to determine the reason. We are losing time and nerves, and experiencing a great deal of stress when we come here. I call on the court to summon them properly and use all the mechanisms it needs, including, if necessary, bringing them under police escort. Perhaps one of the witnesses is under threat or is not being allowed to come. Let them testify. We recommend that the witnesses come and tell the truth, not be afraid and not give in to threats and pressure,” he said.

Stojanov also claimed that the families were facing pressure from lawyers because of statements they had made about them.

“The lawyers are threatening to file criminal charges against us for what we say about them. We recommend that before filing criminal complaints, they think carefully and put themselves in our shoes for 10 minutes, considering what it would be like if it were their child. If they think that by filing criminal complaints they will get money from me, then things have come to this,” Stojanov said.

The court case concerns the fire that broke out on March 16 at the “Pulse” nightclub in Kočani. Sixty-three people lost their lives in the tragedy, while more than 200 others were injured.

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During today’s hearing on the tragic fire at the “Pulse” nightclub in Kočani, lawyers for the defendants questioned experts Goran Markovski and Dušica Anđelković, focusing mainly on the building’s urban planning status.

The defense lawyer for former Kočani mayor Ljupčo Papazov sought clarification on whether the Law on Construction contains a definition of a “building for hospitality services.”

Expert Markovski stated that this category is not specifically defined by the Law on Construction and that the matter falls under the Law on Urban Planning. Professor Anđelković said that the expert group had relied on an extract from the Detailed Urban Plan, in which the property is listed as part of an area designated for light industry and small businesses.

The victims’ families expressed dissatisfaction with the way the trial is proceeding and accused the defense of prolonging the process.

Mita Taseva, the mother of one of the victims, said that repeating questions was not yielding any new information but merely wasting time. Dragi Stojanov, the father of a victim, said the families would continue their efforts:

“They want to drag out the trial and wear us down, but we will not give up. We will fight for justice as long as our hearts continue to beat.”

The hearing is being presided over by Judge Diana Gruevska-Ilievska, while the prosecution is represented by a team of 15 public prosecutors.

Once the construction expert analysis is completed, the prosecution’s evidence phase is expected to conclude. The defense will then begin presenting its evidence.

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At today’s hearing in the “Pulse” case, construction experts answered questions from the defense. The discussion focused on the materials used at the premises, including polyurethane foam for acoustic insulation, as well as the renovations and interventions carried out on its structure.

The questions from the lawyer were answered by Goran Markovski, a professor at the Faculty of Civil Engineering in Skopje, who was engaged as an expert by the Public Prosecutor’s Office.

During the testimony, the lawyer asked Markovski whether he agreed that the condition of the premises when it was rented, in December 2012, had not caused the consequences of the fire.

“Yes, I agree regarding such consequences!” Markovski declared.

This answer was given during the examination of the expert report addressing the causes and consequences of the fire.

According to the information presented at the previous hearing, the expert report identified a number of deficiencies related to the premises and the actions of the responsible institutions. These included the lack of necessary technical documentation, the failure to engage a qualified contractor and supervisory personnel, the absence of quality control, and the failure to take all the measures prescribed for fire protection.

In addition, no inspection supervision had been carried out by the authorized construction inspector or by the Directorate for Protection and Rescue. The State Market Inspectorate had not verified whether the minimum technical requirements had been met, while the Ministry of Internal Affairs had given its approval despite deficiencies in the traffic-access arrangement.

The examination of the expert report and the defense’s questions is continuing. The hearing is focusing on the causes of the fire and the causal link between the condition of the premises, subsequent interventions and the consequences of the fire.

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The University Clinic for Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery in Skopje held several days of specialized consultations to determine the further treatment of patients affected by the tragic fire in Koçan.

The expert visit was organized at the initiative of the Clinic’s director, Prim. Dr. Jasmina Gjorgjievska Pavllovska. Subspecialist Dr. Igor Malkoviq, a plastic and reconstructive surgeon with many years of experience treating the most severe burn cases, took part, the institution announced.

During his stay, detailed assessments and professional consultations were conducted for each patient. The doctors drew up individual plans for their treatment in stages, considering the restoration of function, the possibility of further surgical procedures and the expected outcomes.

As part of the visit, complex reconstructive surgery was also performed on a patient who was among those most seriously injured in the Koçan fire.

The procedure was carried out thanks to the cooperation and joint professional commitment of Dr. Malkoviq, Prim. Dr. Gjorgjievska Pavllovska, Prim. Dr. Trençev, Asst. Dr. Naceska Gjorgjevska, Asst. Dr. Jovanovski, specialist Dr. Maksutlar, specialist Dr. Trajkov, as well as residents Dr. Stavriq, Dr. Shemov, Dr. Pejoska and Dr. Onçev. The anesthesiology team, operating room nurses and the Clinic’s entire staff also assisted in the process, the statement said.

According to the Clinic, his participation was important in planning the next steps in treatment. The initiative aims to implement modern reconstructive surgery practices and encourage the exchange of knowledge and experience with renowned experts from the region. At the same time, it demonstrates that care for patients from Koçan remains among the institution’s top priorities.

The treatment of a patient with severe burns does not end with saving their life or healing their wounds. This is followed by a long and complex process involving reconstructive procedures, rehabilitation and the gradual restoration of function, independence and quality of life.

Caring for these patients requires knowledge, experience, patience and close cooperation among professionals. The outcome is measured not only by the success of an operation, but also by every subsequent improvement that helps the patient use their hands again, return to everyday life and regain hope for the future.

The University Clinic for Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery said it would continue to provide uninterrupted, modern and comprehensive healthcare to those injured in the Koçan fire.

Through the commitment of specialists, professors, residents, nurses and other healthcare staff, as well as cooperation with renowned experts from the region and around the world, the Clinic aims to achieve the best possible outcomes for every patient, the public healthcare institution said in its statement.

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The urban-planning documentation of the City of Kočani, dating from 1998 to the present, as well as the Construction Law, did not allow the industrial premises at the location where the “Puls” nightclub/cabaret operated to be repurposed for catering activities. Nevertheless, the investor began using part of it as a nightclub/cabaret as early as 2012, in violation of the PHU and legislation on urban planning and construction. This was stated by expert Dushica Trpchevska Angelkoviq at today’s hearing on the fire at the Kočani nightclub, held in the courtroom in “Idrizovo.” The tragedy claimed the lives of 63 people and injured more than 200 others.

At the opening of the hearing, prosecutor Darko Jakimovski announced that the construction expert report had been prepared covering several fields. The proceedings continued with issues related to urban planning and the testimony of Dushica Trpchevska Angelkoviq, a member of the team that worked on preparing the construction expert report.

According to the expert’s explanation regarding urban planning, zone G10 of the City of Kočani, where the nightclub is located, has retained the same designated use. Both the first detailed urban plan, presented in 1998, and the latest plan in force, adopted in 2013, designate this zone for light industry and small businesses.

The expert referred to Article 97 of the Construction Law, according to which every building must be used only for the purpose for which it was designed and built. In the 2013 urban plan, the premises are designated G3 – services, while the compatible uses listed are B1, B2, B4, D2, D3, D4, G2, G4 and E2. The B3 designation, which concerns large hospitality facilities, including nightclubs and cabaret clubs, is not included on this list.

According to the expert, for the nightclub to be legally opened, an initiative to amend the PHU first had to be submitted to the Municipality of Kočani, with the aim of establishing the B3 designation as either a primary or compatible use. The municipality then had to receive an application to repurpose the premises under category B3, and a main design for this change had to be prepared. The design had to include all the requirements concerning the minimum technical conditions that the premises were obliged to meet under the Law on Hospitality Activities. Another option would have been to open the nightclub in a different building located in an area designated B3.

Asked whether the Municipality of Kočani could have intervened after hospitality activities had already begun on the premises, the expert explained that the Construction Law also sets out, among other things, how buildings are to be used. She said this was a category-two building, meaning one of local importance, for which permits are issued by the municipality. For this reason, the municipality should have acted within its powers and verified whether the premises were being used in accordance with the permits issued for their construction and use.

Regarding the question of whether the license issued for the nightclub/cabaret prevented municipal inspection services from responding, Dushica Trpchevska Angelkoviq explained that the two matters were not conditional upon one another.

The prosecutor also asked how it was possible for a hotel to be located nearby. The expert replied that the PHU included a plot designated B5 – hotel, but the section listing compatible uses for that plot was blank.

At the previous hearing, judicial expert and professor at the Faculty of Civil Engineering at USHCM Goran Markovski testified. At the time the construction expert report was being prepared, he was dean of the Faculty of Civil Engineering. Markovski said the findings of the expert report showed beyond any doubt that, in the case of “Puls,” the system, institutions and individuals had all failed completely, while standards, rules and procedures had not been implemented.

Markovski said the team of experts from the Faculty of Civil Engineering had regretfully established that no fire-protection measures had been implemented at the premises where the “Puls” nightclub was located. The number of regular evacuation exits was zero. Based on the size of the premises, the permitted capacity was 363 guests, while more than 600 people were inside on the critical night.

According to the announcements, the presentation of evidence by the Prosecution is expected to conclude with this phase.

The trial is presided over by Judge Dijana Gruevska-Ilievska, while the Prosecution is represented by a team of 15 public prosecutors.

The fire at the “Puls” nightclub in Kočani broke out on March 16, 2025, during a concert by the band DNK. The incident claimed the lives of 63 people and injured more than 200 others. The tragedy is considered one of the worst in the country’s recent history.

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The latest hearing in the “PULSE” case continued today with testimony from experts from the Faculty of Civil Engineering. They explained how powers and responsibilities for inspecting premises are divided among the various institutions.

The experts stated that the Ministry of Economy has neither the authority nor any legal duty or obligation to inspect premises. According to them, inspecting hospitality establishments and verifying whether they meet the required conditions falls to the relevant institutions and inspectorates, which act under powers defined by the laws governing this area.

Within the scope of its responsibilities, the Ministry of Economy implements the Law on Hospitality Activity and relies on the findings and opinions of the competent inspection authorities.

The expert who participated in preparing the construction assessment said that, under the provisions of the Law on Hospitality Activity, the Ministry of Economy had no authority to inspect or address the issue of the premises’ occupancy permit within the scope of its activities.

The assessment determines that responsibility for this issue lies with other institutions, in accordance with the Law on Construction. It was also clarified that the cabaret licence issued by the Ministry of Economy does not provide grounds for the construction inspectorate to take action against the premises.

According to the experts’ explanations, the designated purpose and manner of use of premises where hospitality activities are conducted are not regulated by the Law on Hospitality Activity. These matters are governed by the Law on Urban Planning and the Law on Construction, which set out the procedures and conditions governing the designated purpose and use of premises.

Consequently, when issuing a licence, the Ministry of Economy acts in accordance with the Law on Hospitality Activity and solely within the powers assigned to it by that law.

In this section, the assessment clearly distinguishes the responsibilities of the Ministry of Economy from those of the institutions with authority over the construction, use and technical inspection of premises.

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The next hearing on the tragic fire at the “Pulse” nightclub in Kočani will be held today in the “Idrizovo” courtroom, where the building assessment of the “Pulse” facility will be examined and the experts who prepared it will testify. The fire claimed the lives of 63 people, while more than 200 others were injured.

At the previous hearing, court expert and professor at UKIM’s Faculty of Civil Engineering Goran Markovski stated that the expert report had clearly identified the complete failure of the system, including institutions and individuals, at the “Pulse” facility. At the time the assessment was prepared, Markovski also served as dean of the Faculty of Civil Engineering.

According to his testimony, the relevant standards, regulations and procedures had not been followed in this case.

Following the experts’ testimony, the Prosecution is expected to conclude the presentation of its evidence.

The trial is presided over by Judge Dijana Gruevska-Ilievska, while the prosecution is represented by a team of 15 public prosecutors.

The incident occurred on March 16, 2025, during a performance by the band DNA. The fire at the “Pulse” nightclub killed 63 people and injured more than 200 others, ranking among the most serious tragedies in the country’s recent history.

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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.

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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.

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