We are being silenced': Mongolian politicians face jail after vote calling for PM to resign

"A number of younger Mongolian politicians, including many women, are facing the threat of extended jail sentences for their role in challenging the country's political leadership, in what they claim are early skirmishes in a battle to prevent a slide into authoritarianism."

"The former deputy speaker of the parliament, Yale-educated Bulgantuya Khurelbaatar, told the Guardian she was facing the threat of 12 to 20 years in jail after being charged with the criminal offence of an organised effort to unlawfully seize or retain state power. She described the charge as absurd and unprecedented in Mongolia."

"There is also a generational divide within the MPP, with a younger group of reformists, including some educated abroad, challenging the traditional leadership. The charge relates to Bulgantuya's role as the chair of a vote in parliament in October in which a majority of MPs were declared to have voted for the prime minister, Zandanshatar Gombojav, to stand down."

Mongolia's ruling Mongolia People's Party faces internal conflict between reformist younger politicians, many educated abroad, and traditional leadership. Former deputy parliament speaker Bulgantuya Khurelbaatar faces 12-20 years imprisonment for allegedly organizing efforts to unlawfully seize state power, charges she deems absurd and unprecedented. The dispute stems from her role chairing an October parliamentary vote to remove Prime Minister Zandanshatar Gombojav over mineral export tax changes. Bulgantuya claims the procedure followed established precedent. President Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh, allied with the prime minister, vetoed parliament's decision. These prosecutions, supported by state intelligence, reflect broader generational and ideological divisions threatening Mongolia's democratic stability amid geopolitical pressures from Russia and China.

Read at www.theguardian.com