The Kocani Prosecutor's Office has issued an order to expand the investigation into the fire at the "Pulse" disco in Kocani with 19 more people, MIA reported last night, quoted by BTA, citing statements from the prosecutor's office and the Ministry of Interior of the Republic of North Macedonia.
They are suspected of "serious crimes against public safety" and criminal charges have been brought against them.
The Prosecutor's Office of North Macedonia announced that these are officials who, in the period from 2012 to March 16, 2025, "did not act in accordance with the regulations on safety measures and thus created a danger to the life and health of people and property on a large scale".
Among the new suspects are construction inspectors in the Municipality of Kocani, directors and chief inspectors from the Directorate for Protection and Rescue, ministers of economy, state secretaries and other employees from this ministry, as well as inspectors from the State Market Inspectorate.
There are suspicions that their actions and inactions led to the club “Pulse“ in Kocani for a long period of time to continue to operate, without meeting legal requirements and in violation of all safety rules for the lives of people visiting the site.
As a result, a fire was caused by the use of pyrotechnics on March 16, 2025, in which 61 people, including six children, died and another 197 people, including 25 children, were injured, the prosecutor's office said in a statement.
With the new charges, the Kocani prosecutor's office has so far launched an investigation against a total of 45 individuals and three legal entities in connection with the fire.
The cited statement does not mention names, but according to media reports in North Macedonia, current and former ministers have been arrested and brought to justice today. According to the MKD, among them is the current Minister without Portfolio and former Director of the Protection and Rescue Directorate (PRD) Shaban Saliu, as well as the current Director of the PRD Xhevat Selami. Former economy ministers Valion Saracini and Bekim Neziri were also reportedly detained today, and another former economy minister, Driton Kuci, who is currently North Macedonia's ambassador to Norway, is being sought.