Expert Petre Ruseski says there are no grounds to disqualify him in the Pulse nightclub trial

Expert Petre Ruseski, engaged by the defense in the trial over the Pulse nightclub fire in Kočani, told the court he sees no grounds for his disqualification after prosecutors questioned his past engagements and cooperation with other experts. During cross-examination he stood by his written construction report, saying the building met its intended purpose and that the works performed were construction-trade activities.

Prosecutors press on past work; expert insists on scope

Prosecutor Natasha Saramandova began the hearing by asking Ruseski—who prepared the construction expertise for first accused Dejan Jovanov and two other defendants—whether he believed there were grounds for disqualification, noting that the Public Prosecutor's Office checks whether an expert faces proceedings or convictions before appointment and expects other parties to do the same.

The prosecution pointed out that Ruseski prepared an expert report at the request of defendants Nikolcho Kocev and Ljupcho Stamenkov that was co-signed by Vasilka Kaevska, and asked whether "Vasilka Kaevska, together with Nikolcho Kocev and Miroslav Grchev, prepared legal expert opinions for Inks Drim AD Struga on matters you were asked to assess in this case." Ruseski answered affirmatively.

"Yes, that's so. We all work under the law... Incidentally, 11 experts are accused of false testimony based on the statement of one expert. And that is an indictment that has had no hearing for two years. I do not believe I should be disqualified," the expert said.

Ruseski clarified that Kaevska worked with him as an architectural expert "to more easily answer the questions posed by the requestors," while surveyor Inaet Ertani acted as a consultant "more in an advisory role." Defense lawyers protested the prosecution's line of questioning as harassment and said the prosecution lacked evidence to support its assertions.

Public prosecutor Darko Jakimovski continued cross-examination and highlighted passages from Ruseski's report for Dejan Jovanov which state that "the basic minimum technical conditions in the building are satisfied, that a cabaret hospitality activity is performed, that light interventions with partition walls are performed," while elsewhere the report says that "regarding the overall fire-safety functionality, evacuation, electrical installation, mechanical ventilation, emergency lighting, minimum technical conditions and other required safety conditions... an assessment from relevant authorized experts or competent bodies from those fields is necessary. This opinion is limited to the construction-architectural aspect of the building." Ruseski confirmed those formulations, responding "Yes, that is stated."

Asked whether the construction contributed to the fire, he said the role of materials and the building's reaction should be examined, but from his construction perspective "the building and the materials in it did not contribute and its fire-safety condition was not exceeded and it fully served its purpose. From the construction aspect there are no consequences on the fire." On whether interior fittings and layout are also a construction matter, the witness replied: "as I said, they are construction-trade works."

Ruseski added: "In the sense of the word adaptation, I agree with Professor Mirjana that there is no adaptation. Definitely, there is no reconstruction from a construction aspect, there is no change in the business premises and, definitely, these are construction-craft works of internal interior arrangement of the space." He also argued that "construction-craft works are not defined in the Law on Construction because they do not require permits, authorizations and licenses, while otherwise for every case they are necessary and used."

The trial continues with evidence the defense has proposed. At the previous hearing Ruseski's report and his claim that the venue had met requirements and that documents for the change of activity—among them fire protection and occupational safety reports submitted to the Market Inspectorate and a traffic study submitted to the Ministry of Interior—had been filed, drew strong reactions from prosecutors and the families of the victims.

Parents of victims sharply criticized Ruseski's courtroom statements. Aleksandar Naunov said during a break at an earlier hearing that "the performed construction works cannot be treated as ordinary craft works in order to avoid responsibility for building without permits," stressing that the trial "is not only about building structures, but about safety, responsibility and the lost human lives."

The proceedings are overseen by Judge Diana Gruevska-Ilievska and the indictment is presented by a team of 15 public prosecutors.

The Pulse nightclub fire in Kočani occurred on March 16, 2025, during a concert by the band DNK. Sixty-three people died and more than 200 were injured, making it one of the deadliest disasters in the country’s recent history.

Photo: press material from the event