The Governing council meeting of the 142nd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) was organized today (May 24, 2021). Mr. N.Enkhbold, a member of the State Great Hural and the former IPU Vice-President and Executive Committee member of 2001-2004, and Mrs. B.Saranchimeg, a member of the State Great Hural and a Bureau member of the IPU’s Democracy and Human Rights Standing committee have represented Mongolian parliament at this 207th Governing council meeting which was attended by more than 150 parliamentarians.

The meeting heard with reports on the corresponding activities of the President, Executive Committee and Secretary General of the IPU. The IPU Secretary-General Martin Chungon presented the Annual Impact Report on the activities of the IPU in 2020.

During his presentation of the report that reflects IPU activities of the given period, their results and specific issues related to parliaments and their members, he mentioned cases of illegal arrest and detention of sitting parliament members and election candidates in Mongolia. He expressed hope that the cases should be resolved within the framework of the common principles of the parliamentary immunity and the rule of law.

Mr. N.Enkhbold, MP has responded to Secretary General’s comment. He expressed his gratitude for mentioning of illegal act in Mongolia during the “Impact report” speech and confirmed such a case of violation of sitting parliamentarian and election candidate’s immunity had indeed occurred. During the detention, however, a candidate has gained most votes and has been reelected. He has been released by the Supreme court order and taken his parliamentarian’s oath and serving his duty now. He noted that the incident has proven how important the IPU's hard work for strengthening international democratic parliaments and its support as well as the mutual assistance and cooperation between the parliaments of countries around the world.

IPU Secretary-General M.Chungong has expressed his delight for the good news and emphasized the hard work exerted by the IPU’s Human Rights Committee of Parliamentarians to resolve the illegal arrest and detention case and assured the Committee’s continued determination in future.