Skopje, 5 July 2025 (MIA) - Interior Minister Panche Toshkovski told a press conference Saturday there must be accountability for the deadly fire at the “Pulse” nightclub. Speaking on occasion of the Government’s first year in office, Toshkovski reminded of the Ministry's investigation into the fire, which, he said, has resulted in charges against dozens of perpetrators including former and incumbent ministers, directors, mayors, managers of institutions, police officers and other office holders.

“Unfortunately, the past year we had the biggest tragedy in recent Macedonian history – the fire at ‘Pulse’ in which we lost 62 young lives, and over 200 were injured. Unlike before, when after such tragic events there were no criminal charges filed by the Interior Ministry, this time we launched the biggest investigation so far which resulted in criminal charges against dozens of perpetrators including former and current ministers, directors, mayors, managers of institutions, police officers and other office holders. There must be accountability,” Toshkovski said.

In the fight against corruption, the Minister said over the past year the Interior Ministry has filed criminal charges against 107 people and 18 legal entities over corruption in healthcare, energy, tax system, and security.  

“These corrupt schemes have resulted in damages to the country of over Mden 17 billion (EUR 276 million). The Interior Ministry has undertaken activities that I hope will create the conditions for these funds to be returned to the citizens in the future,” Toshkovski said.

In the fight against illegal drugs, Toshkovski said the Ministry uncovered over 860 criminal offenses and seized over 430 kilograms of narcotics the past year, including record-high quantities of cocaine. He said they prevented three attempts at international smuggling and discovered abuses within cannabis production companies, from which they seized over six tons of marijuana. 

MIA file photo