Thirty-five people and three institutions have gone on trial in North Macedonia over a devastating fire at a nightclub that killed 63, mainly young people, in March.
Judge Diana Gruevska-Ilievska addressed a crowded courtroom, promising to conduct a transparent and disciplined trial. Club Pulse, located in Kocani, was filled with young concert-goers when sparks from pyrotechnics ignited the ceiling.
Prosecutors described years of neglect that left the club dangerously unsafe, and charged three former mayors, the nightclub owner, and officials responsible for public safety.
The trial could extend for several years, as defense attempts to delay proceedings were rejected by the judge. At the time of the tragedy, only one of the club's exits was operational, resulting in a high number of casualties as attendees struggled to escape.
Public outrage led to protests across North Macedonia, as families of the victims demanded accountability. Recent demonstrations, including the March of the Angels, have kept the focus on the institutional failures that contributed to the disaster. Prosecutors insist this tragedy was not due to a single mistake, but rather a series of systemic failures that allowed unsafe conditions to persist.
