2022 Mongolian protests

2022 Mongolian protests
2022 Mongolian protests
	Clockwise from top left Protests outside the Government Palace on 4 December; Prime Minister Luvsannamsrain Oyun-Erdene addressing a crowd on 7 December; Protestors attempting to storm the Government Palace on 5 December
Date	4 December 2022 – 1 January 2023 (4 weeks)
Location	Mongolia
Caused by	Coal theft; Corruption; Dissatisfaction with the Mongolian government; Economic crisis; Inflation;
Goals	Punishment of corrupt government officials; Government resignation and legal reform;
Methods	Demonstrations; Online activism; Rioting; Civil disobedience;
Status	A parliamentary working group was formed and held a public hearing on 21 December 2022.; Multiple senior officials and business executives, including former ETT CEO Battulgyn Gankhuyag, were arrested following the protests.; In late 2023–2024, legal reforms expanded anti-corruption powers, including harsher sentences and enhanced asset confiscation provisions.; Erdenes Tavan Tolgoi was placed under a special state regime; plans were made to take it public and shift coal sales to transparent auction systems.; Heightened civic pressure led to more frequent public financial disclosures and independent oversight initiatives.; As of mid‑2025, investigations are still ongoing. Several officials have been convicted, though many cases remain before the courts.;
Parties
Protesters: (no central leadership)	Government of Mongolia Erdenes Tavantolgoi; Ministry of Justice and Internal Affairs National Police Agency; Internal Troops; ;
Number
~5,000	~100 (as of 4 December)
Casualties and losses
~30 protestors injured	13 police officers and internal troops injured

Mass protests began in the Mongolian capital Ulaanbaatar on 4 December 2022. The protests were sparked by public anger towards a corruption scandal involving the theft of $12.9 billion worth of coal by government officials and politicians.

The Government of Mongolia had met with the protesters and promised to investigate the affairs. An investigation committee was announced by the State Great Khural and several officers suspected of coal theft were arrested. A public hearing was held on 21 December 2022. Mongolian authorities also announced plans to reform the state-owned mining firm Erdenes Tavantolgoi to combat corruption.