The US isn’t stupid. They’re getting closer to the action.
Mongolia has experienced a rapid and alarming deterioration in its ability to combat corruption since March, when Parliament made it possible for judges, prosecutors and anti-corruption agency heads to be fired by the National Security Council.
In the months since, the head of the Supreme Court, the director and deputy director of the anti-corruption agency, and the chief prosecutor and his deputy have all been sacked.
Last week, 17 judges were removed from their posts.
Not so far in the background, are [corruption allegations]('https://transparencyinternational.cmail20.com/t/r-l-jihhnhk-kuuhjrduuy-h/') swirling around dozens of members of Parliament. The president himself is implicated in a [scandal]('https://transparencyinternational.cmail20.com/t/r-l-jihhnhk-kuuhjrduuy-k/') from his time as head of the Transport Ministry.
But perhaps all is not lost.
Situated between China and Russia, Mongolia is a highly strategic democratic ally for the United States, which it calls its "third neighbour". US National Security Advisor John Bolton [was there just last week]('https://transparencyinternational.cmail20.com/t/r-l-jihhnhk-kuuhjrduuy-u/'), and a [free trade deal]('https://transparencyinternational.cmail20.com/t/r-l-jihhnhk-kuuhjrduuy-o/') with Mongolia is currently making its way through Congress.
We’re asking the US Congress to make concrete measures to protect the independence of the courts, anti-corruption agency and prosecutors a pre-condition of the new trade agreement.
One of the obstacles to the deal is concern in Washington that Chinese companies could cross the border and avoid taxes and tariffs. A [register of beneficial company ownership]('https://transparencyinternational.cmail20.com/t/r-l-jihhnhk-kuuhjrduuy-b/') in Mongolia would help prevent that, and strengthen anti-corruption in Mongolia in general.