Thirty-five individuals and three institutions are currently on trial in North Macedonia related to a tragic fire at Club Pulse in Kocani that resulted in the deaths of 63 people in March. The incident primarily impacted young attendees at a concert when pyrotechnic devices ignited the club’s flammable ceiling material.
Judge Diana Gruevska-Ilievska, presiding over the trial, addressed the courtroom filled with defendants and victims’ relatives, emphasizing the need for a transparent and disciplined process. Among the accused are three former mayors of Kocani, the owner of the nightclub, and public licensing officials, all charged with endangering public safety by allowing an unsafe venue to operate. The trial could extend for an estimated five months to five years, as warned by the judge.
Defense attorneys sought to delay proceedings due to the merging of charges into a single case, but the judge denied their request. Reports indicated that at the time of the fire, only one exit was operational, as others were blocked or locked. The fire claimed the lives of 59 individuals on the spot, with four additional casualties occurring later among the injured.
The aftermath of the tragedy sparked protests in Skopje and Kocani, with victims’ families calling for justice. A movement on social media termed “Who’s Next?” led to a protest called the “March of the Angels” just days before the trial commenced.
Prosecutors highlighted systemic failures over many years, asserting that the disaster was not due to a single person’s negligence but rather a culmination of institutional lapses. Allegations include unauthorized licenses for the club, lack of safety inspections, overcrowding, and the absence of a permit for the pyrotechnics that instigated the fire. As the proceedings unfold, the pursuit of accountability remains a pressing societal issue.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cp3x3909rqvo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss