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2h ago

Thousands Rally in Skopje Ahead of Trial in Deadly Kocani Nightclub Fire

Families blame corruption for failures that let an unlicensed club operate.

Families of victims who died in the fire at the Pulse nightclub in Kocani attend a protest called the "Angels March", in Skopje, North Macedonia, November 15, 2025. REUTERS/Valdrin Xhemaj
Families of victims who died in the fire at the Pulse nightclub in Kocani attend a protest called the "Angels March", in Skopje, North Macedonia, November 15, 2025. REUTERS/Valdrin Xhemaj
A woman reacts as families of victims who died in the fire at the Pulse nightclub in Kocani attend a protest called the "Angels March", in Skopje, North Macedonia, November 15, 2025. REUTERS/Valdrin Xhemaj
Relatives of the victims of a deadly nightclub fire on March 16, 2025 hold photographs of the deceased during a march to demand justice in Skopje on November 15, 2025. On March 16, a fire at a hip-hop concert in the eastern town of Kocani triggered a stampede in the overcrowded club, leaving 63 dead and injuring nearly 200 -- most aged between 16 and 26. (Photo by Robert ATANASOVSKI / AFP) (Photo by ROBERT ATANASOVSKI/AFP via Getty Images)

Overview

  • Protesters dressed in black marched in the capital carrying banners and photos of the 63 victims, with relatives releasing a video vowing a long fight for justice.
  • The March 16 blaze at the Pulse club in Kocani was ignited by a pyrotechnic flame that set the roof alight, causing a stampede that injured more than 200 people.
  • Prosecutors have indicted 34 individuals, including the club owner, security guards, former mayors, inspectors, civil servants and former economy ministers, along with three companies.
  • The charges allege serious crimes against public security, and defendants face potential sentences of up to 10 years if convicted.
  • Authorities say the venue had numerous safety violations and the wrong license, as broader concerns about pervasive corruption are echoed by Transparency International’s poor ranking and repeated EU warnings.