Mongolia sentences prominent journalist to nearly 5 years in prison

Washington — A Mongolian court on Friday sentenced a prominent journalist to nearly five years in prison in a move that local analysts and journalists say marks a concerning development for the country’s media.

In a closed-door trial, the court convicted Unurtsetseg Naran of spreading false information, tax evasion, money laundering, revealing personal secrets and illegal acquisition of state secrets. Unurtsetseg, who denies wrongdoing, was sentenced to four years and nine months in prison.

Unurtsetseg, who is the editor-in-chief of the news site Zarig, was first arrested in December 2023 on accusations of spreading false information and contempt of court.  More serious charges were later added, but the journalist was released in February to house arrest.

Unurtsetseg will have the opportunity to appeal the conviction.

Anand Tumurtogoo, a freelance journalist based in Mongolia’s capital, Ulaanbaatar, told VOA the conviction has created anxiety among some of the country’s reporters.

“It is a dark day in Mongolia’s media sector,” said Anand, who has contributed to news outlets that include Foreign Policy, ProPublica and VOA Mandarin Service.

“It gives a horrible, chilling effect among Mongolian media. If you go against people who have power, you might face these kinds of consequences,” Anand said.

Unurtsetseg is well-known in Mongolia for her critical coverage. In one of her best-known investigations, the journalist questioned companies that had defaulted on loans to the Development Bank of Mongolia. She also uncovered sexual abuse in a Buddhist boarding school and exposed violence in the military.

Mongolia’s Washington embassy did not immediately reply to VOA’s email requesting comment.

Galbaatar Lkhagvasuren, a lawyer at the pro-democracy Mongolian group Globe International Center, told VOA that Unurtsetseg’s case underscores how two violations in Mongolia’s criminal code — spreading false information and illegal acquisition of state secrets — should be abolished.

“These provisions risk unduly restricting investigative journalism and freedom of expression,” said Galbaatar.

“This event shows that there is a real risk that journalists will be convicted again and again if the provisions of the Criminal Code, which are characterized by undue restrictions on the professional activities of journalists and the stifling of critical voices, are still in force,” Galbaatar said. “As a result, journalists have the consequences of fear and self-censorship.”

Unurtsetseg has faced previous legal threats related to her work. She faced 12 defamation complaints in 2019 and four in 2020, all filed by politicians mentioned in her reporting, according to the International Federation of Journalists.

Defamation cases are often used to retaliate against journalists in Mongolia, according to press freedom groups.

Unurtsetseg’s conviction comes two months after another Mongolian journalist was charged.

In early May, Bayarmaa Ayurzana, editor-in-chief of the Mongolian news website Tac.mn, was briefly detained and then charged with “threatening to disseminate information that might cause serious damage” to Mongolia’s deputy prime minister.

Bayarmaa has reported extensively on suspected embezzlement by the deputy prime minister. Her trial date has not been announced, according to Reporters Without Borders, or RSF. If convicted, she could face up to eight years behind bars.

Mongolia currently ranks 109 out of 180 on the RSF World Press Freedom Index, where 1 shows the best media environment. RSF’s analysis of Mongolia notes the country “broadly respects the principles” of a free press, but that its “flawed defamation laws facilitate arbitrary lawsuits against journalists.”