Fresh protests erupted in the Mongolian capital Ulaanbaatar on Thursday (December 8th) after officials suspected of being involved in a high-profile case of embezzlement in the coal sector sparked national outcry.
Since Sunday, thousands of people have been marching through the streets of the city daily in freezing temperatures.
Popular discontent is catalyzed by the economic difficulties of the East Asian country, located between China and Russia.
Embezzlement
Celebrities and influencers on social networks have joined the protest, after these accusations of embezzlement of billions of euros from public coffers by a “
coal faction
” made up of deputies and business executives.
These deputies, who would own coal mines and transport companies, are accused of having taken advantage of their position to transport coal to China illegally, embezzling funds for their benefit.
Braving -17°C, more than a thousand people gathered on Thursday in Sukhbaatar Square in Ulaanbaatar, under the imposing statue of national hero Genghis Khan.
The police were present but the demonstration remained peaceful, noted an AFP journalist.
Other rallies earlier in the week had resulted in minor clashes.
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Police are investigating the Tavan Tolgoi coalfield, which generates huge revenues for the state, to find evidence of alleged embezzlement and corruption of customs officials.
Justice Minister Nyambaatar Khishgee on Thursday announced the arrest of Gankhuyag Battulga, former CEO of Erdenes Tavan Tolgoi - one of Mongolia's largest coal mining companies - along with seven other people charged with money laundering. money from diverted coal.
According to him, recordings from surveillance cameras at a border post showed customs officers not having registered certain vehicles, suggesting that coal was exported illegally.
Popular discontent is all the stronger as the Mongols are already suffering from high inflation and a sluggish economy due to Covid and the war in Ukraine.
“Destroy the rotten system”
On Wednesday, Mongolian Prime Minister Luvsannamsrai Oyun-Erdene met the protesters, promising to "
destroy the rotten system
" of corruption.
A "
gang
" of politicians who made money from coal and copper mining took control of law enforcement to try to prevent an investigation, he said.