Politics
Published: 2026-07-28
Mongolia’s Independent Authority Against Corruption has summoned former President Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj to give testimony in a case connected to Erdenet Mining Corporation, an official source said. Elbegdorj returned to Mongolia in early July but had not appeared before the agency as of July 28. The report says investigators intend to question him as an accused person under Criminal Code provisions concerning abuse of official authority and bribery by a public official. The case had previously been investigated and regained attention before the 2024 parliamentary election. In April 2024, police displayed alleged Viber messages between Elbegdorj and P. Tsagaan, a shareholder in Achit Ikht LLC, during a briefing on that company’s case. A 2024 court order authorizing his arrest as a suspect was revoked on January 7, 2025.
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Trade union presses government to deliver agreed wage increases
Published: 2026-07-28
The Confederation of Mongolian Trade Unions has sent Prime Minister N. Uchral a formal request to implement wage increases agreed in national and sectoral collective bargaining and fully include the required funding in next year’s budget. A May 21, 2026 tripartite agreement between the government, the union confederation, and the Mongolian Employers’ Federation set out plans to revise the minimum wage, develop a national wage policy, gradually raise civil-service pay, and increase pensions and benefits. A supplementary agreement with the Ministry of Education calls for phased increases in teachers’ and staff salaries from January 1, 2026, with a plan to reach MNT 3.5 million in the next budget. Science-sector pay was also agreed to rise by at least 50 percent in 2026.
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Forensic Agency Begins Psychological-Harm Assessments for 85 Criminal Offences
Published: 2026-07-28
The General Authority for Forensic Science has begun nationwide examinations to determine the level of psychological harm suffered by victims of 85 offences across 14 chapters of the Criminal Code. The legal framework also now permits new examinations in digital technology, engineering, property valuation and environmental damage. In the first half of 2026, the agency issued 82,089 expert conclusions and joined 23,212 crime-scene examinations; its total examinations were 56.6% higher than a year earlier. Ecological and economic assessments identified MNT 87.8 billion in damage. The agency said a KOICA-funded capacity-building project installed modern equipment in DNA, chemistry, digital technology and document laboratories, while 12 laboratory types received international ISO accreditation.
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Economy
EU Sanctions Apply Specifically to Chinggis Khaan Bank
Published: 2026-07-28
Bank of Mongolia said European Union sanctions apply specifically to Chinggis Khaan Bank and are not directed at Mongolia’s banking system or financial sector. The central bank said EU authorities were examining foreign transactions made since 2022, including transactions that may have involved Russia in circumventing sanctions, and that the matter concerned one bank. The bank states on its website that it has maintained partnership relations with Russian banks including Rosselkhozbank, TransKapitalBank and Sberbank for foreign payments, trade finance, currency trading, interbank lending and deposits. The report also describes the bank’s financial difficulties and outstanding liabilities to public funds and state-owned entities, and reports allegations linking the bank to former Finance Minister B. Javkhlan and others.
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Dollar Selling Rate Reaches MNT 3,611 at Commercial Banks
Published: 2026-07-28
The US dollar’s average cash selling rate at commercial banks reached MNT 3,611 on July 27, while the average buying rate was MNT 3,586, according to the report. The Bank of Mongolia’s official exchange rate was MNT 3,590 per dollar, up 0.9% from MNT 3,558 during the first 10 days of the year. The currency had been broadly stable near MNT 3,570 during May and June before the latest increase. At the Naiman Sharga currency market, dealers were buying dollars at MNT 3,605 and selling them at MNT 3,612. Other quoted rates were MNT 21.93 for the Japanese yen, MNT 2.45 for the South Korean won and MNT 46.03 for the Russian ruble.
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First-Half Tourist Arrivals Reach 417,600
Published: 2026-07-28
Tourist arrivals reached 417,600 in the first half of 2026. Russia was the largest source market with 154,800 visitors, followed by China with 115,800 and South Korea with 55,200. Japan supplied 14,000 visitors, while Kazakhstan, the United States, Germany, Turkey, Taiwan, and Belarus were also among the leading sources. Kazakhstan accounted for 9,100 arrivals, the United States 9,000, Germany 8,900, Turkey 6,900, Taiwan 4,300, and Belarus 3,700. The figures cover the first six months of 2026 and place Russia, China, and South Korea as the three largest reported visitor markets. In 2025, Mongolia received 854,200 tourists in total.
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Infrastructure
Airport to Restrict Charter Services for Three Airlines Over Unpaid Debts
Published: 2026-07-28
Starting July 29, New Ulaanbaatar International Airport will progressively restrict certain paid airport services for domestic charter flights operated by Hunnu Air, Aero Mongolia and Eznis Airways because they have not cleared accumulated debts. International charter services for the three airlines will face the restrictions from August 3. The operator had warned on June 30 that limitations could follow if the carriers did not settle debts under their service contracts, and said the obligations remain outstanding. It stressed that safety-related landing, takeoff and runway services will continue, as will scheduled domestic and international flights. The measures apply only to paid charter-flight services and will be lifted if the airlines settle their debts and meet the required conditions. Passengers should contact their airline about schedules, ticket changes or refunds.
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Road-Use Charges to Reach Up to Five Times Current Rates From August 1
Published: 2026-07-28
Road-use charges on international and national routes will change from August 1 under Government Resolution No. 273 of July 1, 2026. Depending on vehicle category, the new rates will be two to five times the previous rates: passenger cars will pay MNT 5,000 per passage, up from MNT 1,000, while trucks will pay MNT 20,000, up from MNT 10,000. They cover national routes from Ulaanbaatar, paved interprovincial roads and the Altanbulag-Ulaanbaatar-Zamyn-Uud international road. The government aims to raise maintenance revenue; the Transport Ministry receives only 12-13 percent of its requested annual road-maintenance funding. More than 420,000 vehicles have about MNT 20 billion in unpaid electronic toll invoices. Drivers may pass toll points 20 times without paying, but enforcement can begin at the 21st passage; invoices unpaid after 30 days incur a daily 0.5 percent penalty.
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Floodwater Damages 16 Sections of Bayankhongor-Altai Road
Published: 2026-07-28
Heavy rain on July 27 caused floodwater to cross 16 sections of the A0303 Bayankhongor-Altai road between kilometres 65 and 84, damaging and narrowing road shoulders and embankments, the Road and Transport Development Center reported. The affected section spans 19 kilometres of the route. The center warned drivers to take care when travelling on the road. The reports describe floodwater crossing the road and damaging the shoulder embankments, rather than a closure or diversion. Drivers using this section have been urged to proceed carefully and adjust their driving to the damaged road conditions. Road users should be prepared for narrower shoulders and altered embankment conditions while passing the affected section.
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Drainage Works Keep Road by Suu Company Closed Until August 11
Published: 2026-07-28
Drainage-pipe excavation and installation on Uildverchnii Street near Suu JSC in Songinokhairkhan District’s 29th khoroo will continue until August 11, extending the original July 14-25 schedule. Authorities said the repair work was not yet complete, so the road near the company will remain closed until then. Fifteen public-bus routes have been temporarily rerouted, including M:1A and routes Ch:6, Ch:12, Ch:16, Ch:16A, Ch:20A, Ch:20B, D:8, Ch:44, Ch:46, Ch:57, Ch:57B, Ch:62, Ch:77 and Ch:82. These buses are bypassing the Suu Company stop via the Tavan Shar road. The Public Transport Policy Office said it is receiving service-related feedback on 70044040.
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Hot-Water Service Set to Resume in Three Ulaanbaatar Areas on July 30
Published: 2026-07-28
Residents and businesses in the Narny residential complex, the Police Vehicle Depot area, and the Uran Gan area are scheduled to regain hot-water service by July 30 after repairs to major heating pipelines. Hot water has been restricted in these locations since July 20 while Ulaanbaatar District Heating Network State-Owned Joint-Stock Company repairs and upgrades the Thermal 5b and 5v main lines. The pipeline was installed in 1968 and has been in operation for 58 years, according to engineer B. Tumurchudur of the company’s Pipeline Operations and Repair Division No. 2. The work forms part of preparations for the 2026 winter heating season. The city has approved MNT 10 billion for winter-readiness measures and MNT 7.1 billion to cover the heating-price difference.
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New 960-Student School Set to Ease Pressure in Khan-Uul District
Published: 2026-07-28
A new 960-student school in Khoroo 4 of Ulaanbaatar’s Khan-Uul District has completed construction and is ready for state-commission inspection, with operations planned to begin in mid-September. Built by IDC Properties with MNT 11.9 billion from the city budget, the school is intended to reduce pressure on School No. 34, where about 6,500 students attend in a single shift and three-shift teaching has become necessary. It is expected to serve children from khoroos 4, 5, 6, 23 and 24. A separate 960-student school in Khoroo 23 is 75% complete. Funding reviews delayed its planned September opening; commissioning is now scheduled for October 15 and teaching is planned to begin November 15. Huayagt Kharsh is constructing the 11,000-square-meter facility, which will include two sports halls and an arts hall.
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Remote-area residents can register for road-use fee exemption
Published: 2026-07-28
Residents of Emelt in Songinokhairkhan District’s 32nd khoroo, Ulziit in Khan-Uul District’s 14th khoroo, Nalaikh District, and Batsumber soum in Tuv Province can now seek full exemption from road-use fees. Eligible residents must register their vehicles on the E-Mongolia platform’s whitelist. When a registered vehicle passes through a toll point, the system will recognize it automatically and open the barrier. The exemption does not apply when the vehicle travels on local roads, where standard road-use charges will still apply. Drivers can also pay annual road-use fees in installments during the year. Authorities said toll barriers will not open for vehicles with an outstanding balance of 20 or more until the fee is paid in full.
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Prime Minister Orders Plan to Lower Selbe Smart City Housing Prices
Published: 2026-07-28
Prime Minister N. Uchral reviewed construction at the Selbe subcenter project in Chingeltei and Sukhbaatar districts and directed officials to develop it as a Smart Selbe City model. The 158-hectare project plans 113 apartment blocks with 8,575 homes, five schools, eight kindergartens, a family health center, and cultural and sports facilities. Construction is 36.7% complete and land clearance has reached 96%. Uchral said MNT 5 million per square meter would not reach the target group and instructed the capital to present a price-reduction solution at Wednesday’s government meeting. He also called for mortgage, rent-to-own and shared-ownership options, a smart-city technology sandbox, and private-sector support through a special economic zone.
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Twenty-Three Firms Bid to Design and Supervise Dedicated Busway Project
Published: 2026-07-28
Twenty-three domestic and foreign joint ventures submitted proposals for consulting work on Ulaanbaatar’s planned high-capacity bus service using dedicated lanes. The city plans to implement the project from 2025 to 2030. Tenders announced in May cover two consulting packages: detailed engineering design, construction supervision, and a detailed operational design. The Ulaanbaatar Transport Authority is preparing the next tender stage. The selection process is intended to identify a specialized organization to produce detailed engineering solutions and complete technical drawings required before construction can begin. Officials estimate that, once the bus rapid transit system enters service, buses will have an average speed of 20 to 25 kilometers per hour.
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Society
Telegram Scams Leave Victims Facing Large Financial Losses
Published: 2026-07-28
Telegram-based fraud has become a major source of online financial losses, with scammers using offers of quick profits, high-paying remote work, loans, visas, investment opportunities, and online tasks to persuade people to transfer money. National figures cited in the report show Telegram scams caused MNT 11.9 billion in losses in 2024 and MNT 7.3 billion during the first five months of 2025. In Chingeltei District, 76 of 1,274 fraud cases recorded in 2024 and the first five months of 2025 involved Telegram, affecting 72 people and causing MNT 1.3 billion in losses. Prosecutors restricted MNT 9.9 billion in bank transfers in 2024 and MNT 5.7 billion in early 2025 to protect victims, though frozen funds do not ensure recovery. Fraud can carry fines, movement restrictions, community service, or imprisonment under the Criminal Code.
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Electrical Safety Violations Cause Nearly One-Third of Building Fires
Published: 2026-07-28
Electrical-safety violations accounted for 32.1% of fires recorded nationwide so far this year, the National Emergency Management Agency reported. Among fires linked to electrical-safety violations, 53.8% were attributed to improper use of electrical systems, 34.4% to incorrect installation and 11.8% to technical defects. The agency advised households, businesses and institutions to ensure electrical safety, avoid overloading circuits and use designated electrical wiring. It also recommended disconnecting electrical power sources and securing them before travelling away from home or taking holidays for several days. The agency said these steps can help people anticipate and prevent potential risks.
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Tourism office warns travelers against unrealistically cheap booking offers
Published: 2026-07-28
The Capital City Tourism Department has warned that unregistered travel companies and individuals are increasingly advertising implausibly cheap trips online, taking advance payments and defrauding customers and tourists. Before booking a service, customers should verify an operator’s registration through the Mongolian Tourism Professional Association’s official website, mto.mn. The department advised travelers to confirm that a company is officially registered, sign a contract, obtain a payment receipt, and check its registration details, address, and contact information. It also urged people not to trust offers that appear excessively cheap or unrealistic. The association’s registry includes 534 tour operators, 213 tourism service organizations, 32 travel agencies, and 223 companies conducting tourist-guide and interpreter activities.
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Mother Detained After Children Taken Into Protective Care
Published: 2026-07-28
Police detained T.A., the mother of two children placed in protective care, on suspicion of assaulting a young child and committing domestic violence. The children, A.D., 13, and B.Kh., 5, were transferred to the Child Protection 108 Center. The case followed circulation of a video showing a man smoking indoors and making threatening remarks toward two young children. Police said T.A., the man’s cohabiting partner, secretly recorded the video and used it to obtain a total of MNT 280,000 from E. Batbaatar in three instances. Authorities also said T.A. had made five false police reports between 2021 and 2026 alleging that her husband had assaulted her. Investigators are appointing legal representatives for the children and arranging statements, psychological assessments and a situation assessment. They plan to send the case to court on August 3.
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Water Accidents Claim 464 Lives Over Five Years
Published: 2026-07-28
Water-related accidents killed 464 people nationwide between 2021 and 2025, including 359 adults and 105 children, the National Emergency Management Agency reported. On July 26, 22-year-old J.B. drowned in Lake Uvs. Emergency rescuers recovered the body the next morning, 300 meters from shore at a depth of seven meters. Separately, at Lake Avarga Toson in Delgerkhaan soum, Khentii province, emergency patrol officers rescued a person who was drowning and unconscious, providing urgent assistance. Authorities said 11 percent of people who died in water accidents had entered rivers or lakes after consuming alcohol. They urged adults to supervise children near water and not let them play with inflatable mattresses or other unsuitable floating devices.
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Education Drives Rural Families to Move to Ulaanbaatar, Study Finds
Published: 2026-07-28
Education was the main reason for 39.2 percent of households moving from rural areas to Ulaanbaatar, ahead of employment at 35 percent, according to a study by UNICEF, the International Organization for Migration, and the city’s Policy Research and Analysis Center. The research covered 961 children in 500 households and used ethnographic and group interviews to supplement its findings. It found that moving to the capital can create more educational and development opportunities for children, while also introducing new risks and inequalities. Sixteen percent of children in the surveyed households had moved to Ulaanbaatar alone. Although children were enrolled in schools and kindergartens, 12.2 percent reported no educational progress since relocating, and 54 percent had not attended an arts or sports activity in the previous year. Thirty-five percent of households rented homes and 40.5 percent lived in ger districts.
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Environment
Tuul and Kharkhiraa Remain 5-10 cm Above Flood Level
Published: 2026-07-28
Water levels on the Selenge River at Khyalgant bag and on the Selbe, Chuluut, Baydrag and Tsagaanturuut rivers rose by 10 to 55 centimetres on July 28, the National Agency for Meteorology and Environmental Monitoring said. Levels were expected to rise by a further 10 to 20 centimetres on July 29 near Zuunkharaa soum on the Selenge, Undur-Ulaan soum on the Chuluut and Bayanburd bag in Buutsagaan soum on the Baydrag. The Kharkhiraa River near Tarialan soum and the Tuul River near Lun soum remained 5 to 10 centimetres above flood level. The agency advised people travelling, camping or spending leisure time in river basins not to settle along riverbanks, to supervise children closely and to stay out of river water.
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Published: 2026-07-28
Authorities say they have contained a SAT-1 strain of foot-and-mouth disease after it was detected and laboratory-confirmed in Bayan-Ulgii and Khovd provinces in May, the first recorded occurrence of the strain in Mongolia. The government, State Emergency Commission, Food, Agriculture and Light Industry Ministry and General Authority for Veterinary Services implemented disease-containment measures, culled affected animals and vaccinated animals in outbreak and restricted zones. Mongolia imported 1.65 million doses of SAT-1 vaccine from China and vaccinated 2.5 million animals in Bayan-Ulgii, Khovd and Govi-Altai, according to officials. A further 2 million doses against serotypes O and SAT-1, produced in July by Russia’s FGBI ARRIAH, arrived at Interdecision customs area in Ulaanbaatar on July 25. Transport to relevant provinces was arranged in refrigerated vehicles from July 25 to 27, and additional vaccination has begun.
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Heavy Rain Raises Flood Risk in Ulaanbaatar; August Set to Run Warmer
Published: 2026-07-28
Intermittent heavy rain in Ulaanbaatar was expected to continue for about three hours on July 28, increasing flood risks in low-lying areas, according to weather authorities. The Capital Emergency Management Agency advised ger-area households to dig drainage channels, apartment complexes and businesses to protect basements with sandbags and pump out water, and residents to use only approved roads and bridges as river levels rise. The monthly outlook says August will be warmer than the 1991-2020 average across most of the country, with more frequent hot days and occasional daytime temperatures above 30 C. Rainfall is forecast to exceed normal levels in eastern provinces, eastern central provinces, and northern parts of Gobi provinces, bringing risks of downpours, hail and flooding.
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Ulaanbaatar Prepares to Host UN Desertification Conference From August 17
Published: 2026-07-28
Ulaanbaatar will host the 17th Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification, COP17, from August 17 to 28. Reports on preparations give differing participant figures: Urug and isee reported preparations were 82% complete, with more than 4,500 foreign delegates registered and delegates expected from 197 countries; Ikon reported 4,127 people registered and representatives from 196 countries. The National Garden venue will include a secure Blue Zone for official meetings and a public Green Zone, alongside ministerial discussions and Business4Land and Fashion4Land events. Deputy Minister B. Munkhtamir said roads will not be closed, though nearby market hours may be adjusted and traffic redirected if needed. Euro News is expected to work for 12 days, with international funding for its payment planned.
“Roads will not be closed; traffic will be redirected if necessary.” - B. Munkhtamir (isee.mn)
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Police Investigate 15 Suspected Illegal Mining Cases in Yeruu
Published: 2026-07-28
Environmental police are investigating 15 suspected illegal mining acts in Yeruu soum, Selenge Province, following inspections focused on environmental crimes during the Naadam holiday period. The operations also covered Tuv and Bulgan provinces, with Zaamar, Yeruu, Bugant, and Buregkhangai identified as locations where heavy equipment is frequently used. Authorities said suspected violations include mining beyond licensed areas, extracting minerals under the guise of land rehabilitation, and unlicensed mining by people using machinery or manual methods. Nationwide inspections from July 1 to 16 recorded 34 reports with signs of environmental crime and stopped them at the scene. Authorities have opened case-registration investigations into 44 acts that allegedly polluted or damaged the natural environment. Illegal mineral extraction accounts for about 70% of environmental crimes, police said.
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Zavkhan Seeks Eastern Hayfields Amid Poor Summer Growth
Published: 2026-07-28
Zavkhan Province’s local authorities have requested land in eastern provinces for haymaking as they prepare for the 2026-2027 winter, during Deputy Prime Minister N. Nomtoibayar’s inspection of winter-preparation measures. Summer pasture conditions are assessed as average across 60% of the province and poor across the remaining 40%, after sharply higher air and soil temperatures reduced expected plant growth. Provincial officials also asked the National Emergency Commission to urgently begin stalled work on a 25 MW thermal power plant funded by a concessional loan from South Korea’s Exim Bank, normalize coal supplies from the Mogoin Gol mine, and speed road construction toward the Arts Suuri border crossing. They also requested hay and fodder support for emergency reserves. The deputy prime minister said the government would address market and economic barriers to obtaining hay from central and eastern regions.
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Land Degradation Pushes Herders Toward Urban Migration
Published: 2026-07-28
Drought, dzud, water shortages and degraded pasture are forcing some herding households to leave their home areas for settlements, although Mongolia does not officially classify or measure them as environmental migrants, an analysis in isee.mn reported. A herder from Baatsagaan soum in Bayankhongor province described moving in search of rain and pasture. More than 665,000 people moved to Ulaanbaatar between 2000 and 2023, or about 30,000 annually; the report stresses that not all were displaced by environmental conditions. A review of the socioeconomic effects of desertification and land degradation estimated annual losses from pasture-use decline at about MNT 1.2 trillion and found water scarcity can raise water-use costs two- to threefold. The article identifies community pasture management, spring protection and land restoration as potential responses.
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Police Investigate Illegal Transport of Bear Cub and Red Deer
Published: 2026-07-28
Police are investigating a person identified as B after authorities detected the alleged illegal hunting and transport of a brown bear cub and a red deer through the Emeelt inspection checkpoint in Songinokhairkhan District. Both animals appear on the list of rare animals approved in an appendix to a 2012 government resolution. The investigation cites Article 24.5.2 of the Criminal Code. The provision covers unauthorized hunting or capture in protected areas, as well as hunting, capturing, intentionally raising, domesticating, or breeding rare animals without a special permit. It separately lists keeping, selling, buying, transporting, or exporting raw materials derived from such animals, and creating collections of taxidermy specimens, parts, organs, or animal-derived raw materials. Penalties can include MNT 5.4 million to MNT 27 million fines, travel restrictions or imprisonment for one to five years. Police asked the public to report suspected illegal hunting through 102 or 70191070.
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Innovation
Schools Shift to Four Terms for the 2026-27 Academic Year
Published: 2026-07-28
All general education schools will move from three terms to four in the 2026-27 academic year under Education Ministerial Order A/211. The school year spans September 1, 2026, to June 15, 2027, while teaching ends May 28 for primary grades and June 4 for middle and high school. Term breaks will follow seven to nine weeks of teaching, replacing the previous 16-week first term. The schedule includes two independent-study weeks: in Ulaanbaatar, one follows the second term and precedes a three-week winter break, while another coincides with Tsagaan Sar. Provincial and soum schools will schedule one study week around Tsagaan Sar and another during the spring livestock-birthing period. First-grade enrollment at public schools will be available through E-Mongolia from August 17 to 28. Universities in Ulaanbaatar will begin online on September 1 and move to in-person classes on September 14; dormitories will accept students from September 14.
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E-Mongolia adds English school records with electronic apostilles
Published: 2026-07-28
E-Mongolia now allows users to obtain basic and upper-secondary education certificates and grade transcripts in English with electronic apostille certificates. The change enables these documents to be used abroad without notarization or certified translation, according to officials. Users can request and authenticate the records through the government’s integrated public-service platform. The validity and authenticity of both the electronic apostille and attached documents or certificates can be checked by scanning a QR code. Officials said they are working to expand the types of certificates and records eligible for electronic apostilles and to add more language options for issued documents. The service applies to certificates of basic and complete secondary education as well as academic grade records.
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Health
Citicoline Removed From Subsidized Essential Medicines List
Published: 2026-07-28
Citicoline, sold as Brainact, has been removed from Mongolia’s 11th essential medicines list under Health Ministerial Order A/176 of May 13, 2026, according to a report citing patients and medical practitioners. The medicine had received a 50% health-insurance subsidy; a 30-tablet box costs MNT 50,000-51,000 and is reported to last 14-20 days depending on the condition. The report says the decision was not publicly communicated clearly before implementation: notice was sent to medicine-supply organizations and contracted pharmacies, while consumers learned from pharmacies. Patients have submitted complaints to the Ministry of Health and the General Authority for Health Insurance through the seven official importing and supply organizations and their affiliated pharmacies. Doctors interviewed by the report said they use citicoline in treatment and rehabilitation for stroke and brain injury, including long-term follow-up. The minister reportedly said more than 200 medicines were removed from the previous list.
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