On 17 March, Mongolian authorities raided the independent media outlet Noorog, confiscating hardware and personal belongings while interrogating several staff members. While authorities initially accused Noorog of undermining national unity, they changed the specifics of the accusations multiple times. Several journalists were reportedly detained without due process or legal representation. Media experts view the search as a serious attack on press freedom and free speech, particularly following the outlet's announcement of an upcoming documentary on the 2024 parliamentary election. The State Prosecutor’s Office later stated that the legal basis for the detentions was not justified and refused the request for immediate arrests. An investigation into the raids is ongoing, with rights experts noting that this incident marks a concerning decline in press freedom, following the prosecution and arrests of other journalists in the past year.   

Sources: Reporters without Borders, The Diplomat, The UB Post, International IDEA, GoGo Mongolia, Asia Democracy Chronicles

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

Mongolia held a parliamentary election on 28 June in which the ruling Mongolian People’s Party secured a slim majority of 68 seats out of 126 seats, while the main opposition Democratic Party secured 42 seats, an increase from previous years where DPP won 11 out of the-then 76 seat body. The election was conducted under a mixed electoral system, following a May 2023 amendment increasing the number of legislators from 76 to 126. Voter turnout stood at 69.8 per cent, down from 73.6 per cent in the 2020 election. A record 32 (25 per cent) female lawmakers were elected to the National Assembly, up from 13 (17.1 per cent) in 2020. Election observers noted that the election was well-organized, fair, and largely peaceful. However, competitiveness was adversely affected by an uneven playing field that favoured the ruling party in the run up to the election.

Sources: General Election Committee of Mongolia, OSCE, International IDEA, Deutsche Welle, Asia News Network

A record 32 (25 per cent) women secured seats in the National Assembly in Mongolia’s parliamentary election held on 28 June, up from 13 (17.1 per cent) in 2020. The increase follows a new quota established in May 2023 mandating that 30 per cent of candidates must be women. In addition, the parliamentary election provided the first opportunity in the country’s history for Mongolians living abroad to exercise its voting rights. 

Sources: International IDEA, Asia News Network, IOM Mongolia, Akipress

In line with Mongolia's recent constitutional reform to overhaul its electoral system, parliament has moved to amend the Law on Elections to set a minimum quota for women among party candidates to 30 per cent (previously 20 per cent), with the stated aim of increasing it to 40 per cent in the 2028 election. The changes will be enacted from 1 January 2024, and are considered part of Mongolia's ongoing reforms to address long-standing gender-parity issues in political decision-making processes.

Sources: Montsame, The Diplomat, Vip76