Terrain control of all establishments registered as discos or nightclubs in North Macedonia has started, reports BGNES.

The start of the inspections was announced yesterday by the Prime Minister of North Macedonia, Hristijan Mickoski, after a coordination meeting with the Director of the State Market Inspectorate, Vlatko Stoikoski, and the Minister of Economy and Labour, Besar Durmisi, during which they discussed the previous procedures undertaken by the competent institutions and the extensive analysis for all entities registered as discotheques or nightclubs.

On 16 March, Mickoski announced that he would launch an active action to check all the records of establishments following the tragedy at a disco in the town of Kochani, in which 59 people died and 155 were injured.

"In 2024, a total of 12 nightclub licenses were issued, and of these we do not know which are still valid. We have a lot of work to do and it is obvious that someone has not done their job and is trying to cover up the crime under politicisation. Whoever it is and whichever party it is, what happened is more than a crime. This is a mass murder that someone has allowed to happen for money," said Mickoski after visiting the Mother Teresa Clinical Centre where some of those injured in the Pulse disco fire are being treated.

The prime minister said all unlicensed discos "should and will close."

According to the Prime Minister, Pulse has only been licensed twice - in 2021 and 2023. "The question is those who put their signature in 2021 and 2023, on the basis of what documents they did it."

"There will be no mercy. We will get them out of the houses. Never mind that they plan to play the political and ethnic card with these midnight press conferences. We'll get them out of the houses by their ears," said Mickoski.  | BGNES