The Social Democratic Union of Macedonia (SDSM) has accused VMRO-DPMNE of using Nacev’s recent arrest as a means to shield current officials from responsibility for the tragedy in Kochani. According to the SDSM, the arrest is a delayed tactic and not a genuine pursuit of justice.

The SDSM claims that for three months, the VMRO-DPMNE government denied any involvement of Nacev, the owner of the agency that secured the “Puls” cabaret in Kochani, defending and acquitting him while the victims’ parents sought answers.

The SDSM highlights that VMRO-DPMNE leader Mickoski had previously announced his resignation if any security agency close to VMRO-DPMNE was confirmed to be involved. Now, the SDSM asserts, VMRO-DPMNE is using Nacev as a scapegoat, hoping the public will forget who is truly responsible.

Further fueling their accusations, the SDSM points out that the former chief of SVR Stip, Dejan Saltirovski, and his assistant, who were present at the “Puls” disco on the night of the tragedy and took no action, were later recruited into the VMRO-DPMNE election headquarters.

The SDSM concludes that VMRO-DPMNE’s attempts to project justice through selective arrests and scapegoating will not appease the anger of citizens and parents who lost their children. The party insists that true justice will only be served when investigations are conducted into those currently under Mickoski’s protection.