< Back to situations

Monitor this situation.

[SITUATION] · [ACTIVE] · [CRIME]

3 clusters · 15 sources · 23 days · First seen · Last updated

Puls nightclub fire legal proceedings

Overview

Legal proceedings continue following the March 16, 2025, fire at the Puls nightclub in Kočani, which resulted in 63 deaths and over 200 injuries. The trial involves 35 individuals and three legal entities charged with ‘serious offenses against public safety,’ including club owners, managers, inspectors, former mayors, and former ministers.

Dejan Jovanov, the nightclub owner and the only defendant currently held in prison detention, faces the expiration of his pre-trial detention on October 3, 2026. To avoid continued custody, Jovanov proposed a guarantee of approximately 195,820 euros through a mortgage on real estate to ensure his presence at future proceedings.

However, the Skopje Basic Public Prosecutor's Office has submitted a negative opinion regarding Jovanov’s release. Prosecutors requested the court reject the bail request, arguing that the offered property consists largely of ‘auxiliary buildings, sheds, and stables that were previously illegal constructions.’ The prosecution noted these assets would be difficult to convert into cash and claimed Jovanov was aware that parts of the property were already subject to enforcement and could not be mortgaged. Investigations indicated the club was operating without a valid permit and had violated numerous safety standards.

Entities

Dejan Jovanov · Kočani · Skopje Basic Public Prosecutor's Office · Basic Criminal Court - Skopje · Pulse nightclub

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

Timeline

  1. [CRIME] 3 sources
    Skopje prosecutors oppose bail for Puls nightclub owner

    Skopje prosecutors have opposed bail for Puls nightclub owner Dejan Jovanov following a fatal fire in Kočani that killed 63 people. The trial involves multiple officials and owners for safety violations.

  2. [CRIME] 3 sources
    Dejan Jovanov offers 200,000 euro property guarantee to avoid detention

    Dejan Jovanov, accused in the Kočani Pulse nightclub fire, has offered 200,000 euros in real estate as a guarantee to avoid detention before his current prison term expires on October 3.

  3. [CRIME] 9 sources
    Puls nightclub owner to be released from detention

    Puls nightclub owner Dejan Jovanov will be released from detention by October 3, 2026, due to legal limits following the Kočani fire that killed 63 people.

Sources

360stepeni.mk · aktuale.mk · expres.mk · kurir.rs · lokalno.mk · n1info.rs · plusinfo.mk · politika.rs · prv.mk · telegrafi.com · tetova1.mk · tetovasot.com · utrinskivesnik.mk · vecer.mk · zurnal.mk

This summary has been updated 1 time: see revision history