At today's hearing in the trial over the fire at "Pulse" in Kochani, defence lawyers submitted a request to consolidate the existing case with new charges against 13 officers, with the aim of conducting all cases in a single proceeding.

A total of 25 police officers are charged across three separate indictments, running in parallel with the main case against 35 civilians and three companies. This structure creates four simultaneous court proceedings, and legal analysts warn that such an approach may jeopardise the effectiveness of the judicial response.

In one of the cases, three Kochani police officers charged with abuse of office – for documenting inspections of "Pulse" with violations recorded against a different catering establishment – declared they feel no guilt.

The prosecutor divides the cases by time periods and specific acts: nine officers are charged with abuse of authority for inspections in the 2022–2023 period, while 13 officers still await charges for more serious criminal offences linked to the direct events during the tragedy.

Defence lawyer Petre Shilegov expressed concern: "The prosecution should reconsider its position. If police officers cannot be charged with endangering public safety, the prosecution must clarify which defendants can at all face such charges."

The trial continues with the examination of new witnesses proposed by the prosecution, while the public follows the proceedings with enormous attention on the anniversary of the tragedy.