The film reveals that although institutions are not the direct culprits, they bear key responsibility: they allowed the nightclub to operate without meeting legal requirements and technical safety standards.
Shocking evidence of corruption, political ties, and institutional failures that contributed to the tragedy in Kocani, North Macedonia is revealed in a new documentary by the Investigative Reporting Lab – Macedonia (IRL Macedonia) titled “Kocani – Our Moral Compromise”, BGNES reported.
A series of previously unseen footage take viewers back to the night of March 15–16, 2025, when dozens of young lives were lost in fire. Alongside this, unpublished investigative documents show how those meant to protect citizens – inspectors, prosecutors, politicians – actually acted.
The film reveals that although institutions are not the direct culprits, they bear key responsibility: they allowed the nightclub to operate without meeting legal requirements and technical safety standards. The public interest lies precisely in understanding how the state permitted such a dangerous venue to function.
On July 3, Daniela Dimovska – ranked only 11th in the merit list – was elected president of the Criminal Court in Skopje. Just fifteen days later, that same court received the case file on the Pulse nightclub.
Yet in the indictment, the inspectors from the Public Revenue Office (UJP – Macedonia’s equivalent of the tax authority), who had been bribed by nightclub owner Deko, were “magically” missing. One of those inspectors is Dimovska’s own brother. Earlier in her career, Dimovska had worked in parliament as an assistant to MPs from VMRO-DPMNE.
“We know what they will say: ‘You are interfering in the elections.’ Our answer is: ‘This is not politics. This is journalism.’ Journalism must never wait for a ‘convenient moment.’ Publishing such investigations in the run-up to elections is the only way to ensure that the reality of ordinary people and their problems enter the public debate,” the filmmakers said.
For six months, the Prosecutor’s Office of North Macedonia has held evidence of abuse of office, bribery, and the leaking of confidential information by UJP employees. These officials had shared details of joint inspections with the Interior Ministry, including safety-related checks. Yet at no press conference did prosecutors disclose that UJP was under scrutiny, or that the investigation would be broadened to resolve the case systematically. It was never said whether other officials – through action or inaction – might have contributed to the tragedy. Journalists raised these questions, only to receive the answer: “there is no evidence of other crimes.”
Although not directly tied to the fire, the evidence clearly shows that the state had the chance to prevent the tragedy through inspections and sanctions.
After the investigation was published, the Prosecutor’s Office replied that UJP’s competences cover only tax and financial issues, not safety, which is why its staff were not included in the indictment. IRL has refuted this claim.
Kocani – Our Moral Compromise stands as a grim testimony of public negligence and compromises that cost human lives. The shocking evidence presented in the film raises grave questions about systemic corruption – and about whether institutions truly protect society. | BGNES