A landmark trial has commenced in North Macedonia, involving 35 individuals and three institutions, following a catastrophic fire at Club Pulse in Kocani that claimed 63 lives, predominantly young people, in March. The tragedy, which unfolded during a concert by a popular hip-hop duo, was ignited by pyrotechnic sparks that set the club’s flammable ceiling ablaze. The courtroom, packed with defendants and grieving relatives, heard Judge Diana Gruevska-Ilievska vow to conduct the proceedings transparently and with discipline. Among the accused are three former mayors of Kocani, the nightclub’s owner, and public licensing officials, all charged with endangering public safety by permitting the operation of an unsafe venue. Prosecutors highlighted years of systemic failures, including unlawful licensing, neglected inspections, and unchecked overcrowding, which transformed the club into a death trap. The trial, which could span months or even years, saw defense lawyers attempt to delay proceedings, a move swiftly rejected by the judge. The fire, exacerbated by blocked exits, left 59 dead on the scene and injured around 200, with four later succumbing to their injuries. The incident sparked widespread outrage, leading to protests in Skopje and Kocani, where victims’ families demanded accountability. A poignant ‘March of the Angels’ protest, organized under the social media campaign ‘Who’s Next?’, preceded the trial. Prosecutor Borche Janev emphasized that the disaster stemmed from a series of institutional failures and a pervasive lack of responsibility, urging society to seek truth and healing.