Thousands of people have taken to the streets in Mongolia to protest for the third consecutive day against the government and corruption in the coal industry after thousands of tons of the fuel were stolen.
The demonstrators, who have gathered in front of the Mongolian Parliament in Ulaanbaatar, the capital, have been involved in a series of clashes with police officers.
Security forces have reported that at least two people have been detained after protesters set fire to a Christmas fir tree in Sukhbaatar Square, according to reports in the daily ‘Onoodor’.
The people first began protesting on Sunday outside the residence of the country’s president, Ujnaa Jurelsuj, to demand that those responsible for corruption in the coal industry be brought to justice. They have also demanded the resignation or dismissal of members of the government under investigation for stealing vast sums of coal.
The authorities are currently investigating the theft of 385,000 tons of coal, as explained by the government. In total, some fifteen high-ranking officials are being investigated for their involvement in the alleged crime.
Among the accused are the former directors of the country’s state-owned railway company, as well as the head of customs and the head of the Border Protection Department. The country has been severely affected by the consequences of the war in Ukraine and slowing economic growth in China.
