Politics
Parliament Sets 35-Item Agenda for Autumn Session
Published: 2026-09-04
Parliament has approved a 35-item agenda for its 2026 autumn session, which officially begins on September 15. Before then, an extraordinary session is scheduled for September 7-14 to consider a 2026 budget amendment, the 2027-2028 fiscal framework and proposed changes to the 2026 budget. The autumn agenda includes the 2027 state budget and the budgets of the Social Insurance, Health Insurance, National Wealth and Treasury funds, plus monetary-policy guidelines for 2027. Legislators are also due to consider amendments covering labor migration, VAT, political parties, local Citizens’ Representative Khural elections, education, food safety, banking, land, civil service and public procurement. New or revised bills address occupational safety, statistics, constitutional review, social welfare, heating supply and health workers.
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Published: 2026-09-04
Parliament is scheduled to convene an extraordinary session on September 7 to consider the government’s proposed 2026 budget amendment, with the 2027 budget also already submitted for legislative consideration. The amendment projects MNT 36.1 trillion in budget revenue and MNT 33.9 trillion in expenditure. N. Enkhbayar, a member of the Fiscal Stability Council, said the council found that the amendment meets the core requirements of the Budget Law and Fiscal Stability Law. He said recent spending growth has increased pressure as coal prices have fallen below the budget assumption of USD 80 per tonne, to USD 65-70. The 2027 draft projects MNT 41.280 trillion in balanced revenue, MNT 43.586 trillion in expenditure and a MNT 2.306 trillion deficit.
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DP Plans Constitutional Court Challenge Over Budget Bills
Published: 2026-09-04
The Democratic Party (DP) decided on September 4 to ask the Constitutional Court to determine whether Parliament Speaker S. Byambatsogt violated the Constitution by accepting proposed budget legislation for parliamentary consideration. DP leaders and the party’s parliamentary group met urgently after the government submitted a 2026 budget amendment and the 2027 budget draft. The party argues that the bills may conflict with the Constitution and other laws, including because the amendment proposes changes to laws governing budget relations and the Fiscal Stability Law. It says the Speaker’s decision to accept and place potentially unconstitutional proposals before Parliament provides grounds for the case. The court request concerns the Speaker’s conduct and the legality of the budget proposals, rather than a ruling on the budget itself.
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DP Challenges Government’s 2027 Budget Plan and Wealth Fund Spending
Published: 2026-09-04
The DP (Democratic Party) criticized the government’s proposed 2027 budget, arguing that it increases expenditure alongside revenue instead of building savings or completing a major project. Party secretary G. Lkhagvadorj said 2026 budget revenue was MNT 2–3 trillion short and characterized next year’s proposed budget as increased. He alleged that the government plans to spend MNT 3 trillion in Oyu Tolgoi dividends that should be allocated to citizens through the National Wealth Fund’s savings fund, including for Thermal Power Plant No. 6. MP Ö. Shijir said budget expenditure had risen since 2015 without a comparable improvement in citizens’ purchasing power or living standards. He also said Erdenes Tavan Tolgoi had financed projects worth MNT 8.5 trillion.
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Anti-Corruption Agency Seeks Accountability Over School Land Transfer
Published: 2026-09-04
Mongolia’s Independent Authority Against Corruption has sent relevant agencies a request to hold an official accountable over the transfer of 552 square meters of land belonging to Secondary School No. 2 in Bayan-Olgii province. The land was granted for household use to Sh. Marjangul under a provincial governor’s order dated January 16, 2012, and was later sold to N. Ergali for MNT 350 million in March 2024. Local sources said Marjangul’s father, S. Shukirkhan, headed the provincial Local Property Department. During a 2011 inventory of state land, the school’s registered area reportedly fell from 16,552 to 16,000 square meters. The school unsuccessfully sought the land’s return in court. The agency was reported to have approached the Prosecutor General’s Office to seek compensation for state and public losses.
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Economy
Russian Fuel Shortage Raises Prices and Strains Supply
Published: 2026-09-04
Mongolia is feeling the effects of fuel shortages in Russia, its main supplier of gasoline and diesel, according to a Mongolian official speaking to Reuters. Service stations limited sales last month, producing long queues, while prices rose from about US$1 per litre in spring to US$1.50-US$2. Russian refinery disruptions following Ukrainian drone attacks and higher seasonal demand have contributed to the shortage. Mongolia is exempt from Russia’s gasoline and diesel export ban under an intergovernmental fuel-supply agreement. From January through July, Russian diesel deliveries to Mongolia rose 7% to 1.05 million tonnes and gasoline deliveries increased to 515,000 tonnes, though motor-fuel shipments fell to 173,000 tonnes in July from 186,400 tonnes in June.
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Budget Proposal Earmarks Oyu Tolgoi Dividends for Development and Savings Fund
Published: 2026-09-04
The government is negotiating to receive a dividend from Oyu Tolgoi for the first time and has submitted related provisions alongside the draft 2027 state budget, according to itoim.mn. The budget records expected Oyu Tolgoi dividend income of MNT 2 trillion, intended to finance development projects and programs. A proposed amendment to the National Wealth Fund Law, submitted with the budget, separately assigns MNT 1 trillion in expected Oyu Tolgoi dividends to the Savings Fund for health care, education and housing-mortgage financing. The proposal states that the Future Heritage Fund held MNT 7,417,524.4 million as of August 28, 2026, while the Savings Fund held MNT 1,396,747.8 million. It also projects 2027 additions of MNT 3,277,853.9 million and MNT 1,702,353.6 million respectively.
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Ministry Moves to Expand Exports Under Eurasian Trade Deal
Published: 2026-09-04
Food, Agriculture and Light Industry Minister Ts. Iderbat met ministry department heads on September 4 to accelerate implementation of the interim trade agreement between Mongolia and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). Parliament ratified the agreement on December 12, 2025, and it entered into force on July 22, 2026. It gives Mongolian exporters tariff reductions or exemptions on 367 product types sold to Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Armenia and Kyrgyzstan. Eligible goods mainly include meat and food products, wool, cashmere, textiles, garments, leather and other agricultural or light-industry products. The ministry will collect proposals from exporters, producers and prospective exporters, identify commercial opportunities and consolidate the findings next week. The agreement opens a market of more than 180 million consumers for non-mining and value-added exports.
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Development Bank Opens Orders for First MNT 100 Billion Bond Tranche
Published: 2026-09-04
The Development Bank of Mongolia LLC will accept preliminary orders from September 7 to 9 for Development Bond-1, the first MNT 100 billion tranche of a planned MNT 500 billion public bond program. The 12-month bond has a face value of MNT 100,000, pays interest every six months and carries a coupon capped at the policy rate plus 2 percentage points. Tenger Capital is the underwriter. The issue is rated BB-/B1/B+, equivalent to the Mongolian government’s rating, and is fully exempt from personal and corporate income tax. Seventy percent of the primary offering will use competitive yield bids, while 30 percent will use non-competitive price bids. Funds raised under the full program are intended to finance priority infrastructure, energy, manufacturing, road and transport projects.
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Prime Minister Meets Citizens at 1,072-Share Public Event
Published: 2026-09-04
Prime Minister N. Uchral met citizens at Sukhbaatar Square on September 4 and provided information related to Erdenes Tavan Tolgoi’s 1,072 shares. The meeting took place during the “1,072 Shares” open public event, held at the square on September 3 and 4 to bring share-related information together in one place. During the event, citizens could receive information and advice about ownership of the 1,072 shares, dividends and other matters related to the shares. The source describes the event as an opportunity for citizens to seek guidance on these topics. It reports that the Prime Minister met citizens and gave information on the shares.
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2027 Budget Relies on Higher Mineral Export Volumes as Copper Prices Rise
Published: 2026-09-04
The 2027 budget uses a copper price assumption of USD 12,700 per tonne and an average border price for coal of USD 68 per tonne, while production and export volumes are expected to drive revenue growth. Copper averaged USD 13,200 per tonne in the first seven months of 2026, while ANZ Group Holdings forecasts USD 14,500 by year-end and USD 15,000 in early 2027, citing tariff concerns, mine disruptions and steady demand. The budget targets exports of 110 million tonnes of coal and 2.1 million tonnes of copper concentrate, with total exports projected at USD 20.3 billion. First-half mining output reached 61 million tonnes of coal, up 48.7 percent year on year, and 1.2 million tonnes of copper concentrate, up 20 percent. Oyu Tolgoi output growth is expected to support copper export revenue.
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2027 Budget Sets Aside More Than MNT 300 Billion for Agricultural Loan Subsidies
Published: 2026-09-04
The proposed 2027 budget sets aside more than MNT 300 billion for interest support on concessional loans in the food, agriculture and light-industry sectors. It continues financing support and incentives under the Food Supply and Security, White Gold, New Cooperative–Prosperous Herder and Atar-4 programs. As of July 31, Food Supply and Security loans had an outstanding MNT 361.5 billion across 622 borrowers; MNT 58.9 billion is proposed for interest support next year, with no new loans planned. New Cooperative–Prosperous Herder loans had an outstanding MNT 677.3 billion across 26,138 borrowers, with MNT 75.9 billion proposed for interest support. The budget proposes MNT 86.4 billion in interest support for White Gold loans and MNT 60.3 billion in interest support for Atar-4 loans. Separate incentives total MNT 54.7 billion.
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Food Basket Costs Rise 14% Over a Year at Nomin Supermarket
Published: 2026-09-04
Prices for a 12-item food basket at Nomin Supermarket reached MNT 75,437 on September 2, up MNT 9,286, or about 14%, from MNT 66,151 on September 5, 2025, according to a price comparison funded by MEC. The basket included eggs, bread, sunflower oil, sausage, onions, potatoes, juice, rice, mutton, milk, flour and a shopping bag. Its cost also rose 8.6% from MNT 69,478 on January 2, although it fell 7.3% from MNT 81,410 on August 1. The price of 0.954 kilograms of mutton rose 42% year on year, from MNT 15,722 to MNT 22,400. The report says the changes are tightening household budgets and prompting consumers to reduce other spending.
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Heirs Can Now Receive Deceased Relatives’ Erdenes Tavan Tolgoi Shares
Published: 2026-09-04
A 2026 government regulation, Resolution No. 154, provides for the 1,072 Erdenes Tavan Tolgoi shares registered to a Mongolian citizen who dies, along with allocated dividends, to be transferred to legal heirs from June 1. Erdenes Tavan Tolgoi Securities and Finance Department specialist B.Nomin said people can check a deceased person’s holdings through the central securities depository and seek information from the Mongolian Notaries Chamber. To check share information, they should send the deceased person’s registration number in uppercase Cyrillic to 158989. If shares are recorded, an address certificate for the person’s last residence is required; a notary determines the legal heir before transfer to a brokerage account. The article says the process is expected to be resolved within six hours or one day. Some elderly people who sold shares for MNT 1 million under a 2012 government decision said they cannot now receive benefits.
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Published: 2026-09-04
The Bank of Mongolia bought 11.9 tonnes of precious metals in the first eight months of 2026 from 93 licensed entities and 39 individual traders, Unuudur reported. Its August purchases were 3,058 kilograms, 54.4% higher than in the same month a year earlier. The bank’s average gold purchase price was MNT 507,274 per gram in August; the source says precious-metal purchase prices are set by global market prices. Gold purchases and export income from major mineral products are helping increase foreign-exchange reserves, the report said. Separately, gold was priced at USD 4,000 per ounce and had risen about 10% since early August. The World Gold Council said central banks made net purchases of 289 tonnes of gold from April to June, five times the preceding three-month total and a record for that quarter.
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Diplomacy
Uchral Pursues Fuel Security, Trade Implementation and Buryatia Ties
Published: 2026-09-04
Prime Minister N. Uchral used the 11th Eastern Economic Forum to press for stable fuel supplies from Russia and broader economic cooperation. He said Mongolia consumes about 3 million tonnes of gasoline and fuel annually, imports 97% from Russia, and aims to commission its refinery before 2029; the refinery is expected to cover 30% of demand. In talks with Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk, the sides discussed fuel deliveries and implementation of the interim Mongolia-Eurasian Economic Union free-trade agreement, effective since July. Uchral also met Buryatia head Alexey Tsydenov, discussing border cooperation, potential coal exports from Baganuur and Sharyn Gol, and trade in meat and cashmere. The agreement covers tariff relief or exemptions for 367 product types.
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Japan and Mongolia Back Airport Expansion and Deeper Investment Ties
Published: 2026-09-04
President Ukhnaa Khurelsukh received Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi during his official visit to Ulaanbaatar, as the two countries reaffirmed their Special Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity. The sides welcomed a principle agreement to expand Chinggis Khaan International Airport using a concessional loan from the Japanese government. Foreign Ministers Battsetseg Batmunkh and Motegi also stressed the value of a double-taxation agreement to attract bilateral investment. The ministers affirmed implementation of the partnership’s 2022-2031 action program and broader cooperation. President Khurelsukh said Mongolia seeks mutually beneficial cooperation in digital government, information technology, renewable energy, critical minerals, startups, education, culture and tourism. The ministers also discussed regional peace and security and continued multilateral cooperation, while Japan congratulated Mongolia on hosting COP17.
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Thailand Cuts Visa-Free Tourist Stays to 30 Days
Published: 2026-09-04
Visa-free tourist travel between Mongolia and Thailand will be limited to stays of up to 30 days from September 15, following a change to Thailand’s visa-exemption rules for foreign nationals. Under the bilateral arrangement, citizens of the two countries had been able to visit each other for tourism without a visa for up to 60 days. Mongolia’s Foreign Ministry Consular Department advised travelers to adjust their plans for the reduced allowance. Visitors traveling to Thailand for purposes other than tourism must obtain the appropriate visa in advance. Thailand has also set a limit of two visa-free entries per year for travelers entering through land border checkpoints. The change applies to reciprocal visa-free travel, rather than ending the bilateral arrangement altogether.
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Infrastructure
China Border Road Crossings to Close for Mid-Autumn Festival
Published: 2026-09-04
Several road border crossings between Mongolia and China will temporarily close for the Mid-Autumn Festival on September 25. Bulgan, Zamiin-Uud, Burgastai, Shiveekhuren, Gashuunsukhait, Khangi, Bichigt, Bayankhoshuu, Khavirga and Sumber crossings will close for one day under arrangements agreed through diplomatic channels. The Baitag road crossing in Khovd Province will close for three days, from September 25 through 27. Mongolia-Russia border crossings will operate on their normal September schedule. The Border Protection Organization advised travellers and businesses to adjust passenger and freight routes to the closure dates. The listed Mongolia-China road crossings will reopen according to their respective schedules after the temporary closures.
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Citywide Plate Restrictions Remain in Force Through September 12
Published: 2026-09-04
Ulaanbaatar’s odd-even vehicle plate restriction remains in effect citywide from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. through September 12, introduced for COP17 and the start of the school year. On September 4, only vehicles with even-numbered plates could travel. The Traffic Management Center said enforcement does not depend on zones, warning that violations can be fined anywhere in the city. It said 2,600 smart cameras at 170 intersections are being used to identify violations. Electric vehicles with green plates, public transport, qualifying taxis, diplomatic and foreign-delegation vehicles, school and workplace buses, and specified service vehicles are exempt. Traffic police colonel S. Enkhtor criticized the zone-free restriction and its time limit.
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Roadworks Continue at Key Ulaanbaatar Routes as School-Year Traffic Rises
Published: 2026-09-04
Road repairs are continuing at several Ulaanbaatar locations as traffic has increased with the start of the school year. Work is under way in parts of the city centre, near the Trauma Bridge and on the road behind the First Microdistrict, News.mn reported. The projects are slowing vehicle movement and contributing to congestion, particularly during morning and evening work and school peaks. Residents say journeys are taking longer where repairs coincide with heavier traffic. Pedestrian travel is also facing difficulties while the work continues. The report does not provide completion dates or detour arrangements. Ongoing repairs are creating difficulties for drivers, passengers and pedestrians at the affected locations.
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Society
Facebook Currency-Exchange Ad Leads to Nearly 94 Million Tugrik Fraud
Published: 2026-09-04
Police are investigating a fraud case in which a person identified as L transferred nearly 94 million tugriks in three payments after responding to a Facebook advertisement offering yuan exchange services. The complaint was registered on August 29, and investigators found that the victim had contacted an unknown person through the online advertisement before making the transfers. Police have frozen the account that received the money and said the investigation is continuing. Authorities warned people to scrutinize online information, account holders and transaction terms carefully when dealing with unfamiliar contacts through advertisements. The case highlights the risks of arranging currency exchanges through unverified social-media advertisements and communicating with unknown people online.
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Lease Dispute Leaves 600 Monte Rosa Students Without Classes
Published: 2026-09-04
A dispute between Monte Rosa School and its landlord, Naran Trade LLC, has disrupted schooling for about 600 students at the start of the academic year. Naran Trade says the school’s lease expired on June 15, 2026, and that rent for the previous school year was unpaid; it has filed a court claim. Parents say the company removed furniture, student records and other property and cut electricity, water and heating before a court ruling. Monte Rosa’s director said the school had expected a 15-year lease and had paid MNT 2 billion in rent. The article argues that licensing schools operating under rental arrangements has contributed to such problems.
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Two Investigated in Suspected Forced-Prostitution Trafficking Case
Published: 2026-09-04
B.A. and Ts.L. are being investigated on suspicion of trafficking a victim for forced prostitution. Investigators allege that the pair exploited the victim’s vulnerability between September and November 2025 by posting advertisements on social media. They are accused of confining the victim in an apartment in Bayangol District through violence and threats of violence, then transporting the person by vehicle within the capital and arranging commercial sexual exploitation. The case is being investigated under Article 13.1.1 of Mongolia’s Criminal Code, which covers trafficking in persons for the purpose of prostitution. The report describes allegations under investigation and does not state that charges have been filed or guilt established.
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Ukrainian Man Receives Five-Year Sentence in Investment-Fraud Case
Published: 2026-09-04
An appeals court in Ulaanbaatar has upheld prison sentences for Ukrainian citizen Pyotr Vladimirovich Pykhtin and Mongolian citizen L.Tumenjargal for fraud linked to a purported foreign-investment deal. The men were convicted of jointly deceiving a Mongolian citizen identified as D.Z. in winter 2023 into transferring USD 130,000, reported as MNT 460 million, on promises of European financing and credit facilities. The funds were transferred to a Binance account, according to the report. The Bayanzurkh, Sukhbaatar and Chingeltei district criminal court sentenced Pykhtin to five years in prison and Tumenjargal to four years and six months. The Capital City Criminal Appeals Court left those sentences intact and changed the compensation order so Pykhtin must repay the full loss.
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Environment
Uur River Rises 25 Centimeters in One Day
Published: 2026-09-04
Water levels on the Uur (Tsagaan-Uur) River, which rises in the Khuvsgul Mountains, increased by 25 centimeters from the previous day on September 4, according to a meteorological report cited by three news outlets. Authorities advised people traveling, resting or camping near the river and along river basins named in the advisory not to set up camp along the banks. They also urged closer supervision of young children and advised against entering the water. The reports provide no river-level threshold, flood warning, rainfall measurement or forecast, and they do not say that flooding has occurred. The advisory follows the recorded daily increase and focuses on reducing exposure along riverbanks and in the water.
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Police Investigate Suspected Mining Beyond Licensed Areas
Published: 2026-09-04
Police have identified suspected mining offenses at operations in Bombogor soum, Bayankhongor Province, and Omnodelger soum, Khentii Province, where organizations operating in the two soums may have extracted minerals outside the areas specified in their licences. The findings emerged during a nationwide inspection campaign ordered after an August 27 directive from the Minister of Justice and Internal Affairs and under a plan approved by the National Police Agency chief. Inspections are under way in Arkhangai, Bayankhongor, Bulgan, Darkhan-Uul, Dundgovi, Tuv, Selenge and Khentii provinces. Authorities are also targeting unlicensed prospecting and extraction, breaches of small-scale mining rules, damage to the subsoil, and acts that may cause major environmental harm. The suspected violations are being examined under relevant laws, and inspections will continue nationwide.
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Nationwide Network Brings Real-Time Air-Quality Monitoring
Published: 2026-09-04
A project to install automatic air-quality monitoring stations in Ulaanbaatar and the centers of all 21 provinces formally closed on September 3. Mongolia’s Ministry of Environment and Climate Change implemented the project with South Korea’s Ministry of Environment and its Environmental Corporation from 2023 to 2026, using USD 8.9 million in grant funding. The completed network can continuously measure sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, PM2.5 and PM10 particles, ozone, carbon monoxide and meteorological indicators. Data are available in real time through agaar.gov.mn. The project also gives Mongolia the capacity to issue air-quality forecasts, extending beyond its previous weather-focused analysis. The system is intended to provide a unified basis for processing and publishing air-quality information and to support pollution-reduction policy.
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Authorities Search for Bear Seen Near Homes in Selenge
Published: 2026-09-04
Residents reported seeing a bear in a residential area near Sevsuul and Gurvan Salaa in Mandal soum, Selenge Province, at about 7:00 a.m. on September 4. The soum’s emergency commission has organized a search operation to locate the animal. Local authorities warned herders, haymakers, vegetable growers, travelers and holidaymakers to remain alert in the area. They also asked adults to strengthen supervision of young children. The report did not identify the species or state how close the bear came to homes, but it confirmed that the sighting occurred within the soum’s settled area. The search remains under way as officials respond to the reported wildlife presence near the community.
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Police Find Equipment Allegedly Prepared for Illegal Mining in Selenge
Published: 2026-09-04
The Environmental Police Service has begun work to stop illegal mineral extraction in the Tsagaannuur and Yeruu soums of Selenge province. During inspections, officers found nine pieces of heavy equipment and a ZIL-131 vehicle hidden in a mountain area. Police said the equipment may have been prepared for offenses involving illegal mineral prospecting or extraction. The vehicles and machinery were moved to a populated area, where related inspection procedures have begun. The report does not identify the people connected to the equipment or specify the mineral involved. The operation is part of the Environmental Police Service’s work to stop people illegally extracting minerals in the two soums, while the equipment is being examined in connection with the possible preparation of an offense.
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Innovation
Overcrowding Forces School No. 14 to Split Classes Across Six Sites
Published: 2026-09-04
Public School No. 14 in Bayanzurkh District’s 13th khoroo is operating far above capacity, with more than 6,800 pupils in 150 groups at premises built for 2,300. School officials attribute the pressure to rapid population growth from nearby residential development. To avoid a third shift, lessons are split among six sites, including a rented former Otgontenger University building where more than 900 Grade 10 and 11 students from 18 groups attend in two shifts. Officials said the rented site has nine classrooms; teachers reported 45 to 52 students per class, weak ventilation, limited space for equipment and no cafeteria. A News.mn editorial also reported complaints about crowded and dusty satellite primary-school facilities created to ease pressure on the main school.
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Education Ministry Sets Daily Homework Time Limits by Grade
Published: 2026-09-04
The Ministry of Education has approved guidance setting maximum daily homework time by grade and age, beginning with the 2026-27 school year. Minister L. Enkh-Amgalan signed Order A/276 on August 31, requiring schools to tailor the type, difficulty and time allotted for homework to students’ developmental stage and learning goals. The guidance limits homework for grades 1-4 to 10-40 minutes a day, grades 5-8 to 50-80 minutes, and grades 9-12 to 90-120 minutes. The ministry says homework should reinforce classroom learning and develop independent study skills, while avoiding workloads that undermine learning outcomes. The guidance differentiates homework type, level and maximum daily time by students’ grade and age.
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Published: 2026-09-04
Unauthorized transactions remain a risk for users of payment cards and mobile banking, especially after a contactless card is lost, News.mn reported. Bank of Mongolia raised the ceiling for PIN-free contactless card payments from MNT 10,000 to MNT 100,000 in July 2020, allowing banks to set limits within that maximum. Khan Bank’s published terms state that domestic contactless payments up to MNT 50,000 do not require a PIN. The article described a case in which repeated contactless payments from a lost card totaled about MNT 1 million despite the owner’s PIN remaining secret. It urged customers to report and block lost cards promptly and to dispute unauthorized payments with their bank. Police received 1,736 reports involving MNT 10.17 billion in account and electronic-payment fraud losses in one year.
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Second Round of Kindergarten Enrollment Opens in Ulaanbaatar
Published: 2026-09-04
Ulaanbaatar began the second round of kindergarten enrollment on September 3 for families that missed the first registration period, corrected residential-address discrepancies, or completed a change of residence. Parents and guardians can submit applications through the E-Mongolia platform from September 3 through September 11, the General Education Agency said. The agency added that no further admissions will be accepted after that date. Nationwide, 242,742 children are expected to attend kindergarten in the 2026–2027 academic year. In the capital, about 119,000 children have already registered and enrolled in kindergartens. Officials advised parents and guardians to review the relevant information and complete registration within the announced period so their children can be fully enrolled in kindergarten.
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Health
Ulaanbaatar Begins Free Flu Vaccination Campaign for High-Risk Groups
Published: 2026-09-04
Ulaanbaatar has launched its “Together Against Influenza” vaccination campaign, which runs from September 3 to October 3. The city plans to vaccinate 293,619 people at high risk of influenza: children aged 0-6, pregnant women, older people and those with chronic conditions. The government bought 500,000 doses of South Korean-made GCFLU Quadrivalent vaccine, which protects against four influenza strains, through UNICEF. Vaccination is free for these high-risk target groups and available at nearby family clinics and health centers. Last year, the city vaccinated about 146,000 people and reported a 13% reduction in influenza risk. Health officials recorded 106,912 influenza cases last year, with children aged 0-6 accounting for up to half; they plan to vaccinate 210,000 children in that age group.
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Customs Seizes 1,483 Unregistered Injections at Airport
Published: 2026-09-04
Customs officers at Chinggis Khaan International Airport detained 1,483 injections labelled Monjura from the luggage of three Mongolian nationals who arrived on a Narita-Ulaanbaatar flight on August 18. The shipment included 2.5 mg, 5 mg and 7.5 mg products that were not declared to customs, are not registered in Mongolia’s drug registry and require special authorization. Customs transferred the case to the relevant legal and supervisory bodies. Authorities said rules for unregistered medicines distinguish commercial importation, sale and supply from medicines carried by passengers for personal use. Unregistered products cannot be brought in through standard import procedures unless they meet statutory conditions and receive the required permits. Travelers were urged to check registration status, permit requirements and declaration obligations before bringing medicines or pharmaceutical products into Mongolia.
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Published: 2026-09-04
Drug-related crimes and violations are increasing, with young people accounting for most people investigated, according to police and prosecutors. Police recorded 124 intoxication-related violations in the first quarter of 2026, up 51.2% from a year earlier. Over the past five years, 1,673 people were investigated in 1,043 drug-related cases, and 91.2% were aged 15 to 35. Authorities reported that four people were arrested in a domestic-sales case in January and substances equivalent to 338 single uses were seized. Separately, customs detected an international mail shipment from Malawi containing methamphetamine. Justice and Home Affairs Minister S. Amarsaikhan said greater attention is needed for supply chains and organized networks alongside prevention education. The compulsory-treatment center reports a shortage of specialized staff.
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Compulsory Treatment Center Calls for Drug-Addiction Specialists
Published: 2026-09-04
Mongolia’s compulsory treatment and labor center has begun receiving people with drug addiction under court orders in 2026, exposing gaps in specialist care. During a September 3 visit, Justice and Home Affairs Minister S. Amarsaikhan was told that seven people had been sent for compulsory treatment this year, with three currently at the facility. The center previously treated people primarily for alcohol dependence. Prison Authority Director Brigadier General A. Namsamand said MNT 4.2 million was budgeted for one month of detoxification treatment for 61 patients, equivalent to about MNT 70,000 per patient. He said drug detoxification requires longer and more costly treatment, and officials plan to address staffing by establishing a full narcology unit next year.
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China and Mongolia Agree to Expand Cross-Border Disease Surveillance
Published: 2026-09-04
Mongolia and China agreed to continue developing and expanding cooperation on infectious-disease surveillance, prevention and emergency preparedness during a September 3 meeting. Health Ministry State Secretary N. Erdenebayar met Song Yang, deputy director of China’s National Administration of Disease Control and Prevention, and a delegation led by Mei Yan of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The discussions covered early warning, laboratory capacity, information sharing and response readiness. Over the past decade, Chinese institutions and Mongolia’s National Center for Zoonotic Diseases conducted 33 joint surveillance and research activities in four soums across four provinces. The work detected the plague pathogen near the Zamiin-Uud border crossing in Dornogovi Province and the listeriosis pathogen in rodents captured near the Bichigt crossing. China offered support for Mongolia’s new national disease-control center.
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