The Skopje Criminal Court decided on Thursday not to consolidate the ongoing court proceedings and the latest indictment against 13 police officers in connection with the deadly fire that broke out at the Pulse nightclub in Kochani, submitted on January 30, 2026, on the grounds that consolidation would lead to a delay in all proceedings.
Judge Dijana Gruevska-Ilievska explained that the possible consolidation of the cases would lead to a delay in the proceedings. She pointed out that, given the stage of the evidentiary procedure, as well as the fact that the Basic Public Prosecutor’s Office for Organized Crime and Corruption has filed three more proceedings with a total of 25 defendants, one of which is in the final phase, the merger would be contrary to the principle of economy and the obligation of the court to act without unnecessary delay, in the interest of the defendants.
“Given that in addition to the team of 15 prosecutors handling this case, the presence of additional prosecutors from the Public Prosecutor’s Office of the Republic of Macedonia would be necessary,” added the judge.
