Globe International, a Mongolia-based NGO, is deeply concerned about the charges brought against the editor-in-chief of the Ulaanbaatar Times daily newspaper.
(Globe International/IFEX) – Globe International is deeply concerned about the charges brought against the editor-in-chief of the Ulaanbaatar Times daily newspaper, Do. Chuluunbaatar. On 2 August 2012 the Sukhbaatar District Court convicted him under the Mongolian Criminal Code. He was sentenced along with the former president, N.Enkhbayar, and two other individuals. D. Chuluunbaatar was indicted for causing heavy damage to state property in conjunction with others and sentenced to two years and one month in jail.
Below is the sentence related to D. Chuluunbaatar:
“N. Enkhbayar, with the Ulaanbaatar City Mayor and Director of the capital City Property Privatization Commission of that time, T. Bilegt and D. Chuluunbaatar, illegally purchased the Ulaanbaatar Times printing house under the name of Do. Chuluunbaatar and under the Media Holding company to be registered under his sister’s name N. Enkhtuya, and further registered it as a subsidiary to his own company, which the court deemed that it caused huge damages to the Capital City.” Click here for further information.
The Sukhbaatar District Court sentenced D. Chuluunbaatar to 5.1 years’ imprisonment, whereas three of which will be pardoned and 2.1 will be served n jail.
On 25 September 2012, the Capital City Court upheld the Sukhbaatar District Court’s decision.
During the investigation, D. Chuluunbaatar was imprisoned for 4 months from 24 March 2011 to 22 July 2011. Globe International had launched a campaign calling for his release on bail which was supported by numerous international organisations, including IFEX members.
Globe International is deeply concerned that journalists and media outlets in Mongolia are becoming victims of political persecution and considers D.Chuluunbaatar to be one of them.
