Parents: "Attacking the experts won't erase the documents" — at the Pulse nightclub trial

The trial over the Pulse nightclub fire in Kocani, which left 63 people dead and more than 200 injured, continued with the defence questioning the construction expert from the Faculty of Civil Engineering.

Professor Goran Markovski again explained the conclusions of the technical expertise, saying the findings show the club did not meet required standards, regulations or procedures.

Expert report raises questions about official responsibility

Victims' relatives said the construction report is clear, precise and well‑argued, and that it exposes issues that can no longer be avoided — namely who had responsibility and failed to act.

"For us, the parents and families of the deceased children it is especially important that the expertise does not stop only at the condition of the building, but also points out the failures of the competent authorities, those who had legal competences and obligations to act. This is exactly the essence; the defense is trying to dispute the expertise, but attacking the experts does not erase the documents, the facts and the established omissions," said Aleksandar Naunov, a parent of a victim of the Pulse fire.

The families emphasized that the report does not limit itself to technical descriptions of the venue, but explicitly indicates shortcomings of state bodies and agencies that had statutory duties to intervene. They said attempts by the defence to undermine the experts will not change the written findings or the identified lapses.

The court hearings in Kocani continue as those affected press for clarification and accountability over the gaps the expertise has documented.

Photo: press material from the event