Defying the rain, about 10,000 people participated tonight (24.03.2025) on a protest march in the center of Skopje in Northern Macedonia. The protesters again called for responsibility for all those involved in the illegal operation of the Pulse nightclub in the city of Kotsani, where 59 people died in the early morning of March 16th.
The course in Skopje organized the initiative of citizens called “Who is the next?” And which argues that a series of tragic accidents that have occurred in recent years in Northern Macedonia is a consequence of great corruption in the country.
The demonstrators at the top of the march held a large banner saying: “The system is the next”, while shouting slogans such as “justice for the victims”, “murderers, assassins” and “your profits, our lives”.
“We are waiting for responsibility to all those associated with the tragedy in Kotsani. But not only to them, but also to all those involved in previous tragedies in the country, in order to be held accountable, through transparent procedures, in front of justice and public opinion, “said Citizens Initiative spokesman Milena Yanevska.
The protesters initially gathered in the central square of Skopje, where they left flowers and lit candles in the memory of the dead and from there headed in front of a hospital in the city center, where they applauded and attributed their medical and nursing staff for their efforts.
The march ended up in front of the Government Palace in Skopje, where protesters kept silence 16 minutes in memory of the victims of the tragedy and asked the government to disclose all the documents by the competent public services, which allowed the illegal operation of the nightclub.
Do not require functions or pay
Justice demands pic.twitter.com/n5t9e3JLX6– Beliot lav (@skopje_za_site) March 24, 2025
saddlery pic.twitter.com/LNZttdpHbi
– Sali Berisha (@Skopje1881) March 24, 2025
The march, which began at 18:59 local time to remind the 59 victims of the tragedy in Kotsani, was completed peacefully, with no incidents.
The organizers had announced that any party symbols were prohibited along the way as they said it is a social protest movement that is not identified with any political lineup.
Tonight was the second demonstration in Skopje, after that of March 18th on the tragic accident in Kotsani. Similar protests on the tragic incident in Kotsani were held today in other cities in the country, with a universal demand for the administration of justice and the treatment of extensive corruption in the country.
Christian Mitskoski’s “fire” against the opposition to “tooling” the tragedy
Northern Macedonia Prime Minister Christian Mitskoski said today that he realizes the indignation of the world of everything that caused the tragedy in Kotsani, but accused his political opponents of trying to exploit the demonstrations for small -scale.
“Protests are a democratic tool of expression of dissatisfaction. I am upset too (with the tragic event) and I believe that you are unhappy, we are all unhappy with everything that is happening and there is no doubt on it. We are solving problems and will continue in this direction, many issues have been resolved over the last nine months by this government. This government (…) did not allow the humiliation, looting and national destruction of the country to continue. This is exactly the problem for some rodents who want to earn political points through these protests and see the right opportunity, “said Christian Mitskoski.
Northern Macedonia police have so far arrested 34 people over the tragic incident in Kotsani, including former government officials, the last three mayors of Kotsani, police officers and the owner of the fatal nightclub.