Mongolia - November 2024

On 7 November, an appeals court upheld a verdict sentencing journalist Naran Unurtsetseg to four years and nine months in prison, following an initial verdict in July. Unurtsetseg, editor-in-chief of the news site Zarig, was convicted of contempt of court, illegally obtaining state secrets, tax evasion, disclosing personal information and spreading misinformation. Known for her critical reporting on corruption, political scandals, and military violence, Unurtsetseg previously faced 16 defamation suits between 2019 and 2020. Press freedom advocates and local civil society groups criticized the closed-door trials, noting it could lead to self-censorship among journalists and that these cases underscore the urgent need for legal reform to Mongolia's criminal code to protect press freedom. Unurtsetseg denies all charges and the grounds for her charges remain undisclosed.

Update: On 8 March 2025, President Ukhnaagiin Khürelsükh granted a pardon to Unurtsetseg along with three other women in honour of International Women’s Day. The decision absolves Unurtsetseg of her prison sentence as she is set to be released. While rights activists have welcomed the step, they continue to condemn the lack of transparency surrounding the circumstances that led to her initial arrest.

Sources: Reporters Without Borders (1), Aki Press News Agency, CIVICUS, VOA News, Reporters Without Borders (2), GoGo Mongolia