Naunov: Families will not allow disputed expert reports to obscure responsibility for the Pulse fire
At the 11 November 2026 hearing Naunov said defence experts admitted lack of fire-safety expertise and ignored construction faults.
Aleksandar Naunov, president of the Association "16 March" and a parent of one of the victims of the Pulse nightclub fire, told reporters after the court hearing on 11 November 2026 that the victims' families will not allow responsibility for the tragedy to be diluted by disputed expert reports.
Naunov said building experts at the hearing challenged the findings of the defence’s expert, appointed by the first accused, Dejan Jovanov. He argued that the defence expert himself admitted a lack of professional knowledge in fire safety and overlooked serious irregularities in the venue's structure, later additions, evacuation routes and locked doors.
"At today's court hearing the construction experts disputed the findings of the defence's expert, who — according to statements at the hearing — himself admitted that he has no professional knowledge of fire protection, and at the same time disregarded serious irregularities in the construction, additions, evacuation exits and locked doors," Naunov said.
Families demand accountability, question court procedures
He sharply criticised Jovanov — who, Naunov noted, ran the venue for 13 years amid numerous irregularities and suspicions of corruption — and questioned the court's handling of evidence. Naunov said the defence is trying again to relativise responsibility through a contested expert opinion, and he asked why the court allows procedures that raise doubts about preferential treatment of the first accused.
"The first accused, Dejan Jovanov, who ran the venue for 13 years with numerous irregularities and suspicions of corruption, today through a disputed expert opinion again tries to relativise responsibility. And while the Prosecution reacts to the delivery of the list of witnesses at the hearing itself, the question arises: why does the court allow conduct that opens suspicion of privileged treatment of the first accused? Were 13 years of irregularities not enough? Will we, even after 63 extinguished lives, continue with the same practices of justification and avoidance of responsibility?"
Naunov reiterated the families' goal: justice for the victims and measures to prevent similar tragedies. He said the relatives had already paid the price with the blood of their loved ones and will not allow their deaths to be buried under falsehoods, questionable expertise and new injustices.
Photo: press material from the event
