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Former Mongolia president suspected of corruption released on bail

The former president went on a hunger strike for the last ten days

ULAN-BATOR, May 15 (Itar-Tass) — The former Mongolian president Nambaryn Enkhbayar, who was arrested on suspicions of corruption in the middle of April, was released on bail.

According to available reports, the former president went on a hunger strike for the last ten days, but he stopped it only after the release from custody. His health has deteriorated in the prison and he is undergoing a treatment course at the hospital.

Nambaryn Enkhbayar was arrested on April 13. It was reported officially that he is accused of corruption. According to some reports, he is also charged with involvement in the death of several people during the disorders in July 2008. Mongolian media reported that the arrest of the former president was made, after he had made public the previously classified minutes of a meeting between representatives of leading political parties in the country after the massive disorders in July 2008 that sparked up after the announcement of the results of the Mongolian parliamentary elections.

Enkhbayar’s arrest resulted in a deteriorated political situation in the country before the elections in the Great State Khural, Mongolia’s parliament, due in late June. To understand the background of the current events in the country, it should be recalled how similar elections were held in 2008. According to the election results, the Mongolian People’s Revolutionary Party gained most seats in the parliament and, according to the constitution, the right to form a new government. The Mongolian Democratic Party claimed about the falsification of the elections and demanded reshuffle the Central Elections Commission and hold new elections in the supreme legislature. Disorders flared up in Ulan-Bator and the supporters of the Mongolian People’s Revolutionary Party and the Democratic Party clashed that ended in storming and burning down the head office of the party that won at the elections. The political forces of the country were seeking to overcome the crisis for several months. The coalition government was finally formed that included members of both parties, but the confrontation continued.

Nambaryn Enkhbayar, who is an incumbent leader of the Mongolian People’s Revolutionary Party, was elected as president in 2005. He stayed at this post until 2009. Before this he occupied the post of parliamentary speaker and prime minister. In November 2010 the Mongolian People’s Revolutionary Party decided at its 26th congress of the party to get back to the first name of the party, under which it was established in 1921 – the Mongolian People’s Party. Enkhbayar quitted the Mongolian People’s Party and became the leader of the Mongolian People’s Revolutionary Party revived after the split. This party is preparing for the election campaign.

According to several experts, Enkhbayar’s arrest is linked with the standoff of the largest political forces in the country ahead of the parliamentary elections.