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Thousands of people took to the streets of North Macedonia’s capital on Saturday demanding justice for the victims of a nightclub fire – the deadliest fire in the country’s history – ahead of a trial next week against the club owner and others.
The fire on March 16 and the stampede that followed killed 63 people, mostly young revelers, and injured more than 200. The fire, sparked by a pyrotechnic flame, engulfed the roof of the crowded Pulse club in the eastern city of Kokanee.
the protestersPeople, including relatives of the victims, wore black and marched to the criminal court skopjeCarrying big banners with photographs of their loved ones.
Parents blame corruption and greed for the deaths of their children. Officials said the venue had several more serious security violations and was operating with the wrong license.
“We know the road to justice will be long and difficult, full of resistance and twisted intentions,” the parents said in a video message. “We are ready to stand together against the greatest evil, corruption, which has taken away the lives of our children.”
Prosecutors filed indictments for 34 people, among them the club’s owner, a security guard and the former mayor of Kokanee, as well as representatives of three legal entities, including a security firm and the club’s owner’s companies. He is accused of a “serious crime against public safety.”
Other defendants include inspectors, civil servants and a former economy minister. If found guilty, he could face up to 10 years in jail.
Corruption North Macedonia has long been troubled. berlin based monitor transparency International North Macedonia was ranked 88th globally in its Corruption Perceptions Index last year, one of the worst rankings in Europe.
It is common to bribe officials to skip licensing requirements and skirt safety regulations.
The EU has repeatedly expressed concern over widespread corruption in the country, identifying it as a major obstacle to the nation’s accession to the bloc. North Macedonia is a veteran candidate country, waiting for EU accession since 2005.