The Independent Authority Against Corruption compiled the 2020 declarations of income and assets of high-ranking state officials, including lawmakers and Cabinet members.

In 2020, Mongolia’s economy shrank for the first time in 27 years by 5.3 percent due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Statistics show that 27,000 businesses lost revenue due to long-term lockdowns and border restrictions, and 98,000 companies were inactive in 2020.

It is interesting to see how the income of parliamentarians and ministers has changed during this time, and here are the most interesting numerical facts.

The declaration includes state officials’ annual personal income, family income, properties, vehicles, livestock, jewelry, savings, loans, investments, and patents.

INCREASE AND DECREASE OF ASSETS AND INCOME

Lawmaker D.Unurbolor, Minister of Education and Science L.Enkh-Amgalan and Deputy Prime Minister S.Amarsaikhan are the top three richest lawmakers and Cabinet members.

Most of D.Unurbolor’s assets are apartments and properties, valued at 18.4 billion MNT, while L.Enkh-Amgalan has 10.5 billion MNT in receivables. S.Amarsaikhan had declared that he had apartments and properties worth 10.8 billion MNT.

D.Unurbolor has been working as director and board member of Seoul LLC since 1997, while L.Enkh-Amgalan owns shares in Intergroup International LLC and S.Amarsaikhan owns shares in Oyuny Undraa Group LLC and Evo Wellness LLC.

According to the 2020 report, the assets of five parliamentarians had increased compared to 2019. For instance, lawmaker and Minister L.Enkh-Amgalan increased his assets and income by 14.8 billion MNT, legislators Ts.Munkh-Orgil by 7.2 billion MNT, B.Choijilsuren by 4.4 billion MNT, N.Uchral by 2.5 billion MNT, and E.Bat-Amgalan by 2 billion MNT.

In 2020, L.Enkh-Amgalan has the highest income of 8.3 billion MNT, followed by B.Delgersaikhan with 5.5 billion MNT and B.Choijilsuren with 5.02 billion MNT.

According to the report, one legislator and two Cabinet members had increased their personal incomes by 1 billion MNT, while there are two lawmakers whose family income increased by more than 500 million MNT. Particularly, B.Choijilsuren’s personal income had increased the most, by 4.9 billion MNT, while L.Enkh-Amgalan’s income had increased by 3.2 billion MNT, and S.Amarsaikhan’s income by 1.7 billion MNT.

The family income of lawmaker Ts.Munkh-Orgil increased by 4.8 billion MNT in 2020, while the family income of former Minister of Health and lawmaker D.Sarangerel increased by 926 million MNT to 1.3 billion MNT.

Ts.Munkh-Orgil owns shares in three companies, Ulziit Tuv LLC, MCS Mongolia and Thunder Bolt, while D.Sarangerel owns shares in Stimo, Concept City, Gegeen Securities and Gegeen Dalai, Bravat Mongolia and Gegeen Concept.

D.Sarangerel’s income increased by 4.3 million MNT in 2020 compared to the previous year, while her savings increased by 5.6 million MNT to 495 million MNT.

Moreover, the family income of Minister of Justice and Internal Affairs Kh.Nyambaatar increased by 48 million MNT and Minister of Energy N.Tavinbekh’s family income increased by 58 million MNT last year. The assets of other ministers fluctuate at around 2 billion MNT.

This shows that Minister L.Enkh-Amgalan is leading in terms of revenue and capital growth. 

For them, the economic crisis of the pandemic has had a positive, rather than a negative effect.

In contrast, the assets and income of 13 lawmakers, including B.Delgersaikhan, S.Batbold and J.Ganbaatar, decreased compared to 2019. In particular, J.Ganbaatar’s assets decreased by 16 billion MNT due to decline in savings.

The income and assets of some ministers fell sharply last year. For instance, the income of Minister of Road and Transportation L.Khaltar decreased by 196 million MNT, Minister of Food, Agriculture and Light Industry Z.Mendsaikhan’s income by 109 million MNT, Minister of Mining G.Yondon’s income by 63 million MNT, and Minister of Health S.Enkhbold’s income by 6 million MNT.

LAWMAKERS WITH SAVINGS OF OVER 6 BILLION MNT

The data shows that the most members of Parliament, or 89.4 percent have savings. However, there are eight lawmakers who
have no savings, including Ts.Munkhtsetseg, B.Bayarsaikhan, J.Munkhbat, T.Dorjkhand, B.Byeisen, G.Munkhtsetseg, G.Ganbold and N.Altankhuyag.

J.Ganbaatar, D.Unurbolor and Ts.Munkh-Orgil are among the top three lawmakers with the highest savings. As mentioned earlier, J.Ganbaatar’s savings had decreased, but as of 2020, he has 8.9 billion MNT in savings, while D.Unurbolor has savings worth 7.5 billion MNT. Ts.Munkh-Orgil’s savings increased by 474 million MNT to 6.5 billion MNT, which is the highest increase.

Moreover, Speaker of Parliament G.Zandanshatar was among the 10 parliamentarians whose savings increased the most. Compared to 2019, his savings increased by 81.3 million MNT to 188 million MNT in 2020.

Legislators G.Damdinnyam, G.Amartuvshin and Kh.Gankhuyag, and Speaker of Parliament G.Zandanshatar have foreign savings.

As for ministers, Minister of Mining and Heavy Industry G.Yondon increased his savings by 124 million MNT, Minister of Foreign Affairs B.Battsetseg by 103 million MNT, and L.Enkh-Amgalan by 57 million MNT.

B.BAT-ERDENE HAS THE LARGEST HERD

Lawmaker Ts.Ananbazar has livestock worth 1.5 billion MNT, while P.Anujin has 1.2 billion MNT worth of livestock, and D.Bat-Erdene has 890 million MNT worth of livestock.

B.Bat-Erdene has the most livestock. He declared that he had 2,100 sheep and 407 horses. Fifteen Parliament members have race bred horses. In particular, P.Anujin has 240 horses, J.Bat-Erdene has 60, and Sh.Adishaa has 51.

Legislator T.Ayuursaikhan’s livestock value increased by 255 million MNT to 452 million MNT. He was first elected to Parliament in 2016, and his income increased 11-fold in the first four years. Specifically, T.Ayuursaikhan’s personal annual income increased by 14 million MNT to 147 million MNT from 2015 to 2019, reaching 165.6 million MNT in 2020.

Prime Minister L.Oyun-Erdene was among the 10 people whose livestock value increased the most. The value of his livestock increased by 14.4 million MNT to 114.9 million in 2020. 

Minister of Justice Kh.Nyambaatar has the largest number of fast-breeding horses out of five members of Cabinet. Particularly, Kh.Nyambaatar has 36 race bred horses, Minister of Finance B.Javkhlan 28, Agriculture Minister Z.Mendsaikhan, Premier L.Oyun-Erdene five, and Foreign Minister B.Battsetseg five.

Among Cabinet members, Minister of Energy N.Tavinbekh has the most livestock, with 583 horses, 1,510 sheep and 180 goats.

27.6% OF PARLIAMENTARIANS DON’T OWN JEWELRY

A total of 21 lawmakers, or 27.6 percent of Parliament members reported that they did not have jewelry asset. Particularly, male lawmakers B.Enkhbayar, B.Choijilsuren, Sh.Radnaased, B.Delgersaikhan, T.Dorjkhand, N.Ganibal, D.Ganbat, Kh.Bolorchuluun, J.Batsuuri, D.Batlut, S.Batbold, Kh.Badyelkhan, Yo.Baatarbileg, T.Aubakir and N.Altankhuyag, and female legislators B.Saranchimeg, D.Sarangerel, M.Oyunchimeg, B.Bayarsaikhan, S.Odontuya and Kh.Bulgantuya reported they don’t own jewelry.

Lawmakers B.Bat-Erdene has jewelry worth 3.7 billion MNT, L.Enkh-Amgalan has 1.6 billion MNT worth of jewelry, Ch.Undram has more than 1 billion MNT worth of jewelry, while S.Amarsaikhan has jewelry worth 225 million MNT.

Energy Minister N.Tavinbekh and Minister of Environment and Tourism N.Urtnasan stated that they did not have jewelry.

G.AMARTUVSHIN HAS THE MOST LOANS

According to the 2020 report, 47 percent, or 36 lawmakers have taken out loans. Legislator G.Amartuvshin has the largest loan of 1.02 billion MNT, N.Uchral 500 million MNT and Ts.Munkh-Orgil 410 million MNT, while O.Tsogtgerel has 6.8 billion MNT in receivables and S.Byambatsogt has 4.9 billion MNT.

G.Munkhtsetseg has the lowest amount of debt of 3 million MNT. Other members received loans of more than 13 million MNT.

10 LAWMAKERS DON’T OWN A CAR

Legislator Ts.Anandbazar owns vehicles worth 953 million MNT, while Sh.Adishaa has cars worth 952 million MNT, and O.Tsogtgerel 825 million MNT.

Ten lawmakers said they don’t own any vehicles. For instance, B.Choijilsuren, Ch.Khurelbaatar, Ts.Sergelen, Ts.Sandag-Ochir, G.Damdinnyam, D.Ganbat, S.Byambatsogt, J.Batjargal, S.Batbold and T.Aubakir don’t own a car.

The majority of lawmakers have Toyota Land Cruiser 200 and Lexus 570. Three lawmakers reported that they had Mercedes Benz G-500.

This time, lawmaker J.Erdenebat’s assets and income were not registered. He was released from prison and his mandate was ratified by Parliament last March. On January 15, the Supreme Court annulled the verdict of the primary and appellate courts regarding former Prime Minister J.Erdenebat’s corruption case and decided to return it to the prosecutor for further investigation. Therefore, his 2020 income data may not have been included.

Moreover, the assets and income of Minister of Culture Ch.Nomin were not included. She was appointed as minister this year, so her declaration was not registered in the 2020 report.

Last year, some members’ incomes and assets had increased dramatically, while others declined sharply. Generally, their income and assets are higher than the average Mongolian household. However, among the wealthy lawmakers, there is one who took a government soft loan for his child.

Deputy Prime Minister S.Amarsaikhan’s son acquire a soft loan from the Education Loan Fund under the Ministry of Education and Science. His son A.Erdenekhuslen received a loan of 27,166 USD, or 77,423,100 MNT, from the fund for tuition fees at the University of Bristol in the UK. The Education Loan Fund transferred the loan on February 16, shortly after S.Amarsaikhan was appointed as deputy prime minister on January 30.