Hundreds of young Mongolians turned out this week in the country’s capital calling for the prime minister’s resignation on allegations of corruption, a longstanding source of deep public anger in the landlocked democracy.
Mongolia has for decades struggled with endemic graft and the widespread view that the proceeds of a coal mining boom are being hoarded by a wealthy elite has sparked frequent protests and unrest.
Under Mongolian Prime Minister Luvsannamsrain Oyun-Erdene — in power since 2021 — Mongolia has plummeted in Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index.
Photo: AFP
Fueling public outrage are allegations that the prime minister’s family are enjoying wealth far beyond that expectation of a civil servant on the public dime — claims sparked by a social media post by his son’s girlfriend showing a lavish birthday gift.
The prime minister’s office said it “vehemently” denied allegations of impropriety, describing them as a “smear.”
However, hundreds of mostly young protesters have gathered for eight consecutive days at Sukhbaatar Square, also known as Genghis Khan square, in the capital, Ulaanbaatar, demanding the premier’s resignation.
“The prime minister has to resign,” protest organizer O. Ulamsaikhan, 24, said.
“What we are trying to achieve is to establish a new political culture in which unethical behavior by public officials leads to accountability and resignation,” he said.
Also deepening anger in the country are worries over the economy and cost of living. Inflation, which soared following neighboring Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 — reached 9 percent last year, national news agency Montsame reported.
“Young people are working hard to make a living,” said university freshman O. Khulan, 19, who was among the crowd holding placards reading: “It’s easy to resign.”
“Yet it is unfair that the prime minister’s son and his girlfriend have a lavish lifestyle, while I’m buying my bag from a thrift shop,” she said.
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