Corruption in Mongolia

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Corruption in Mongolia remains a significant issue that affects its economic development and erodes public trust in state institutions. The existing state instrumentalities and legal frameworks fail to completely eradicate corrupt practices, which continue to persist across various sectors. Mongolia ranked 114th out of 180 countries in Transparency International’s 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index, with a low score of 33 out of 100, the same rating the country has posted since 2022. [1] This stagnation reflects long-standing concerns about the effectiveness of anti-corruption measures and the entrenchment of elite interests in political and economic spheres.

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High corruption

High-profile scandals have underscored the depth of corruption in Mongolia’s political establishment. Recent examples include the scandal in 2022, which implicated the state-owned coal company Erdenes-Tavan Tolgoi JSC. Its senior officials reportedly engaged in illicit contracts and smuggling operations. The scandal, often referred to as the "coal theft" case, involved the alleged conspiracy between these officials and business leaders to transport large quantities of coal into China without proper customs registration. [2] An estimated 40 trillion Mongolian tugrik (US $13 billion) in terms of potential revenue was lost to the Mongolian government. [3] The scandal also included members of the Mongolian parliament in addition to the executives who had signed secret offtake agreements with foreign entities. After the arrest and incarceration of top executives, two members of the parliament lost their positions on March 30, 2023. [3] The scandal had triggered mass protests and intensified scrutiny of the members of Mongolian People’s Party (MPP), highlighting the blurred lines between political authority and business interests. [4]

The resignation of Prime Minister Luvsannamsrain Oyun-Erdene in June 2025 also demonstrated serious allegations of corruption. His departure followed a parliamentary vote of no confidence, sparked by a wave of public outrage after viral social media posts exposed the extravagant lifestyle of his son. Protests erupted after posts shared via social media exhibited his luxury cars, designer handbags, and helicopter rides – all raising suspicions about ill-gotten wealth, particularly amid Oyun-Erdenes claims of modest origins. [4] Although no formal evidence of corruption was presented, the episode amplified public discontent over perceived misuse of public funds and deepened mistrust toward elected officials. [4]

Judicial corruption

Judicial corruption also remains a critical issue in Mongolia, undermining the rule of law and public confidence in legal institutions. Surveys conducted by the Independent Authority Against Corruption (IAAC) between 2016 and 2021 ranked the judiciary among the most corrupt sectors, with corruption prevalence rate of 38.6 percent in 2016. The judiciary's corruption prevalence rating consistently increased, reaching 53.3 percent in 2019, making it the most corrupt government institution for that year. [5]

In 2019, 17 judges were also dismissed by the National Security Council, including several Supreme Court justices. This raised alarms about political interference in the Mongolian judiciary. The move followed emergency amendments to the Law on Legal Status of Judges, which granted the NSC sweeping powers to suspend judges based on recommendations from the Judicial General Council—a body whose members were all appointed by the President. [6] Transparency International criticized these actions as threats to judicial independence and due process. [7] There is also the case of the autonomy of the Prosecutor’s Office and the internal independence of the prosecutors in Mongolia. According to an OECD report, political bodies are involved in the appointment and dismissal of the leadership of the Prosecutor’s Office, exposing it to political interference. [8]

Anti-corruption initiatives

Mongolia has improved on its legal framework for addressing corruption and this include the enactment of several anti-corruption laws and institutional reforms, including the 2006 Anti-Corruption Law and the establishment of the IAAC. [8] More recently, the 2023 National Anti-Corruption Strategy introduced e-procurement systems and strengthened political party transparency requirements. [9] The Mongolian government has also touted recent amendments to its criminal code, the increase in judicial budget and the improvements in judicial independence as part of its anti-corruption measures. [10] However, implementation gaps persist. The absence of a whistleblower protection law and limited prosecutorial capacity hinder effective enforcement. The OECD’s 2024 monitoring report emphasized the need for improved coordination among anti-corruption bodies and enhanced judicial autonomy. [11]

Challenges

Public perception of corruption remains deeply negative. According to the Global Corruption Barometer, 69% of Mongolians believe government corruption is a major problem, and 22% reported paying bribes to access public services. [12] These figures reflect widespread disillusionment with governance and the perceived impunity of elites. Civil society organizations have called for greater transparency, civic engagement, and reforms to strengthen accountability mechanisms. The Asia Foundation’s SPEAK survey further revealed skepticism about the government’s commitment to fighting grand corruption. [11]

International scrutiny has also intensified. The United Nations Human Rights Committee, during its 2025 review of Mongolia’s compliance with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, expressed concern over high-level corruption and inadequate enforcement of anti-corruption laws. [13] The Committee urged Mongolia to bolster judicial independence, improve transparency in investigations, and ensure accountability for senior officials implicated in corruption cases. These recommendations underscore the global dimension of Mongolia’s anti-corruption efforts and the importance of aligning domestic reforms with international standards. [13]

References

  1. ↑ Transparency International (2025); Corruption Perception Index: Mongolia. Transparency International; .
  2. ↑ Dashpurev, Bayar (2024); The ‘coal theft’ case: Corruption and reform of Mongolia’s strategic minerals governance; U4 Anti-Corruption Resource Center; .
  3. 1 2 Ahearn, Ariell & Munkherdene, Gantulga (2023); Coal smuggling trains Mongolian public’s eye on systemic corruption. East Asia Forum;
  4. 1 2 3 Regan, Helen (2025); “How protests over designer handbags threw Mongolia into political crisis and sparked a prime minister’s resignation”; CNN;
  5. ↑ “Overview of the Situation of Corruption in Judicial Institutions of Mongolia; Conventus Law;
  6. ↑ Dierkes, Julian (2019); The Beginning of the End of Democracy?; University of British Colombia: Mongolia Focus;
  7. ↑ Transparency International (2019); Rule of Law and Independence of Judiciary Under Threat in Mongolia; Transparency International; .
  8. 1 2 OECD (2019); Anti-corruption reforms in Mongolia: 4th round of monitoring of the Istanbul Anti-Corruption Action Plan; Paris: OECD Publishing
  9. ↑ Lkhaajav, Bolor (2023);“What’s in Mongolia’s New Anti-Corruption Strategy? The Diplomat; .
  10. ↑ CCPR (2025); Mongolia’s Escalating Corruption Under Human Rights Committee’s Scrutiny; CCPR;
  11. 1 2 OECD (2024); Baseline Report of the Fifth Round of Monitoring of the Anti-Corruption Reforms in Mongolia; Paris: OECD Publishing
  12. ↑ Transparency International (2020); Global Corruption Barometer – Asia; Transparency International
  13. 1 2 OHCHR (2025); UN Human Rights Committee publishes findings on Albania, Burkina Faso, Mongolia, Montenegro, and Zimbabwe; Office of the High Commissioner United Nations Human Rights;
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