Sanjiin Bayar

Sanjiin Bayar
Санжийн Баяр
Bayar in 2009
25th Prime Minister of Mongolia
In office
22 November 2007 – 29 October 2009
PresidentNambaryn Enkhbayar
Deputy
Preceded byMiyeegombyn Enkhbold
Succeeded bySükhbaataryn Batbold
Chairman of the Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party
In office
22 November 2007 – 8 April 2010
Preceded byMiyeegombyn Enkhbold
Succeeded bySükhbaataryn Batbold
Member of the State Great Khural
In office
29 July 2008 – 6 July 2012
Constituency23rd, Sukhbaatar district
Member of the State Little Khural
In office
13 September 1990 – 29 July 1992
Personal details
Born (1956-12-24) 24 December 1956
Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
PartyMongolian People's Party
Spouse(s)Orsoogiin Gereltuya (Divorced)
Khashbatyn Khulan (Divorced)
Children3 daughters, 1 son (By Gereltuya)
1 daughter (By Khulan)
2 daughters (By Ariunsuvd)[1][2]
Alma materMoscow State University (Faculty of Law)
ProfessionLawyer, journalist
Military service
AllegianceMongolian People's Republic
Branch/serviceMongolian People's Army
Years of service
1979–1983
RankCaptain

Sanjiin Bayar (Mongolian: Санжийн Баяр, IPA: [sˈɑnʒyjn bˈɑj͡ar]; born 24 December 1956), sometimes referred to as Sanjaagiin Bayar, is a retired Mongolian politician who served as the 25th Prime Minister of Mongolia from 2007 to 2009.[3] He was a member of the State Little Khural from 1990 until its dissolution in 1992,[4] a member of the State Great Khural from 2008 to 2012,[5] and Chairman of the Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party (now known as the MPP) from 2007 to 2010.

During his tenure as prime minister, he oversaw a coalition government dominated by the MPRP. Violent riots occurred in 2008 due to alleged electoral fraud, leading to a declaration of a state of emergency for the first time in Mongolia's modern history and a longstanding political crisis between the major political parties.[6] Furthermore, Mongolia was hit with the 2008 financial crisis, which led to a brief economic stagnation and downturn as mineral prices collapsed.[7]

Bayar secured a second term after the 2008 parliamentary elections, becoming the first Mongolian prime minister to secure a re-appointment. In his second administration, he established a major milestone foreign investment deal for Oyu Tolgoi mine project with Ivanhoe Mines and Rio Tinto in 2009. However, the deal was met with harsh domestic criticism and controversy. Soon enough, on 26 October 2009, Bayar resigned as prime minister for declining health.[8] His role was assumed by his deputy, Norovyn Altankhuyag, for three days until Bayar was succeeded by Sükhbaataryn Batbold on 29 October 2009.

Early life and education

Bayar was born in Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia, on 24 December 1956.[9]

His father's given name on official government documents was Sanj, but when he entered the National University of Mongolia, an extra "aa" was mistakenly added to his name, and it became "Sanjaa" on his diploma. Due to these issues with state registration, Bayar's patronymic name has been frequently inconsistent since then.

According to Bayar's birth certificate, his official name is Sanjaagiin Ulziibayar. But when he entered a Russian kindergarten, the administration registered Bayar's full name as "Sandjaagiyn Uldziibair". His father, infuriated by Bayar's Russified name, shortened his name from "Sanjaagiin Ulziibayar" to "Sanjiin Bayar" when registering Bayar for elementary school.[10] Many foreign media outlets and even official Mongolian government sources wrongly refer to Bayar as "Sanjaagiin Bayar", causing a misconception about his surname.

In 1978, he completed his law degree at Moscow State University. From 1979 to 1983, he worked as a junior officer at the General Staff of the Mongolian Armed Forces. Later from 1983 to 1990, Bayar worked as a journalist and editor at the state-owned Montsame and Mongolpress news agencies.

From 1992 to 1997, he taught at the Academy of Social Sciences, studied in Washington, D.C., and was director of the Mongolian Ministry of Defense's Institute for Strategic Studies. From 1997 to 2001, he was the Chief of Staff of the President's Office, and from 2001 to 2005, he was Mongolia's Ambassador to Russia.

Political career

Bayar joined the Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party (MPRP) in 1988.

He was elected as a MPRP member of the State Little Khural, the standing legislature of the Mongolian People's Republic, in September 1990. He served as a lawmaker until the legislature's dissolution in 1992[4]

He became General Secretary of the MPRP in 2005 and was – by 377 to 229 votes – elected Chairman of the MPRP at a party congress in October 2007, defeating incumbent Miyeegombyn Enkhbold. The same congress also voted in favor of Bayar becoming the next prime minister.[11][12] The State Great Khural (unicameral parliament) approved Bayar as the 25th Prime Minister of Mongolia on 22 November 2007, with 67 votes in favor (97.1%) and two against.[13]

Prime Minister of Mongolia (2007–2009)

Bayar in his office as prime minister, 2008

He began his career as prime minister with verbal attacks (speech at his appointment) against Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj and the nationalisation of the 15% share of Mongolian companies in the Tavantolgoi mine, making it a 100% public venture, thus inducing enthusiasm of Russian companies in the large coal deposit.[14] Most of the members of a three-party coalition government, led by Bayar and dominated by the MPRP, were approved by the State Great Khural on 5 December 2007; the government included Bayar's predecessor, Miyeegombyn Enkhbold, as Deputy Prime Minister. This government was planned to serve until the June 2008 parliamentary election.[15]

2008 state of emergency

On 1 July 2008, peaceful protests against election fraud turned into a riot, the first-ever to happen in Mongolia. During the riots, the police chased civilians and shot four civilians to death from their backs and severely injured a dozen of civilians in streets different from demonstration or riot location. Nambaryn Enkhbayar, then-President of Mongolia, announced the country's first state of emergency in the midnight after the riot calmed. Subsequently, the police arrested approximately 1000 people in street or from random locations and imprisoned them. The arrests included children and women without legal advocacy. It is alleged that the police used inhumane methods on the arrested individuals. Victims, and their families, and civil societies claim the responsibility to President Enkhbayar who announced the state of emergency in the middle of night – an uncustomary hour of announcing state of emergency. A wounded teenager to lifelong disability and witnesses confirmed that they were shot by the police.[16]

The National Police Agency is the state enforcement agency of the government, thus President Nambaryn Enkhbayar, Prime Minister Sanjiin Bayar and Minister of Justice Tsendiin Mönkh-Orgil have been blamed by the victims, their families, and civil societies for the deaths.

Re-appointment

Bayar with Russian premier Vladimir Putin in March 2009

On 11 September 2008, following the MPRP's victory in the June election, Bayar was re-elected as prime minister with 65 infavour and 1 against during a parliamentary vote.[17] In his second term, he led a coalition government between the MPRP and opposition Democratic Party.[18] Under his leadership, the Government of Mongolia finally signed an investment agreement to mine the Oyu Tolgoi copper deposit in 2009.[19] The deal was later revealed that in fact it was in favor of the investors. According to some sources, after his resignation he moved to the US and bought several properties on his daughter and relatives names. Later it was found that he has several offshore accounts. It is believed that he still had influences in the MPP which is confirmed by a leaked video footage in which he gives advice to Miyeegombyn Enkhbold, the official head of the party, for his 2017 presidential election speech preparation.

Declining health and resignation

Bayar was admitted to a hospital in Ulaanbaatar in October 2009.[9] Because of his declining health, Bayar announced his resignation in a letter to the State Great Khural one week later on 26 October 2009.[9] A meeting held two days later confirmed that the parliament had accepted his resignation, in which Bayar apologised to those who had voted for him.[9] Norovyn Altankhuyag, the First Deputy Prime Minister, temporarily moved up as Bayar's replacement.[9] Bayar then was succeeded by Sükhbaataryn Batbold on 29 October 2009.

On 8 April 2010, Sanjiin Bayar read his written request to resign from the chairmanship of the Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party due to declining health reasons to the conference of the party and then was replaced by incumbent premier Sükhbaataryn Batbold for the position on the same day from the party conference.[20]

Arrest

On 11 April 2018, Bayar and Chimediin Saikhanbileg, another former prime minister of Mongolia, were arrested by the anti-graft agency, the Independent Authority Against Corruption.[21]

Personal life

He is twice divorced and has seven children.

References

  1. ↑ "His daughter born on the threshold of his 60th becomes medicine to heal S.Bayar". factnews.mn (in Mongolian). 25 March 2013. Retrieved 28 July 2013.
  2. ↑ "Young wives of ex-Prime Minister S.Bayar and Prime Minister N.Altankhuyag are pregnant and the politicians over 50s are preparing to welcome their youngest children when born". shuurhai.mn (in Mongolian). 11 October 2012. Retrieved 28 July 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  3. ↑ "Sanj Bayar elected Mongolia prime minister". Reuters. 22 November 2007. Retrieved 25 August 2025.
  4. 1 2 "Улсын Бага Хурлын гишүүд /1990-1992 он/". Parliament.mn - Монгол Улсын Их Хурал (in Mongolian). Archived from the original on 19 May 2025. Retrieved 25 August 2025.
  5. ↑ "Тав дахь удаагийн сонгуулиар байгуулагдсан Монгол Улсын Их Хурал /2008-2012 он/". Parliament.mn - Монгол Улсын Их Хурал (in Mongolian). Archived from the original on 3 November 2024. Retrieved 25 August 2025.
  6. ↑ "Violent protest after Mongolia poll". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 25 August 2025.
  7. ↑ "Mongolia economic retrospective : 2008-2010". World Bank. Retrieved 25 August 2025.
  8. ↑ "Mongolian Prime Minister steps down for health reasons". Brecorder. 27 October 2009. Retrieved 25 August 2025.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 "Mongolian parliament accepts PM's resignation". Xinhua News Agency. 28 October 2009. Archived from the original on 31 October 2009. Retrieved 30 October 2009.
  10. ↑ Sanj, Bayar [@SBayar12] (3 April 2024). "Наадах чинь улсын бүртгэлтэй холбоотой урт түүхтэй" (Tweet). Retrieved 25 August 2025 – via X (formerly Twitter).
  11. ↑ "Aktuelle Nachrichten aus der Mongolei/ 22. bis 28. Oktober 2007". mongoleionline.de. 28 October 2007. Retrieved 30 October 2007.
  12. ↑ "Unen.mn-Санжаагийн Баяр". Ünen. n.d. Archived from the original on 20 May 2008. Retrieved 30 October 2007.
  13. ↑ "Mongolia rushes to appoint new prime minister as a budget deadline looms", Associated Press (International Herald Tribune), 22 November 2007.
  14. ↑ L. Mönhbayasgalan The Railways, Erdenet, Asgat and Tavantolgoi are gifts of S. Bayar to the Russians (С. Баярын оросуудад бэлдсэн бэлэг нь Төмөр зам, Эрдэнэт, Асгат, Тавантолгой) Archived 21 May 2008 at the Wayback Machine, Newspaper Ödriin Sonin. #291, 6 December 2007
  15. ↑ "Mongolian Parliament approves new coalition government", IST, AFP (Times of India), 6 December 2007.
  16. ↑ "J.Batzaya: I was shot by police officers". Ts.Khishigt for Daily News newspaper. 15 July 2008. Archived from the original on 22 July 2011. Retrieved 7 April 2010.
  17. ↑ "Ерөнхий сайдаар С.Баяр улиран томилогдлоо". gogo.mn (in Mongolian). 11 September 2008. Retrieved 20 August 2026.
  18. ↑ AFP: Mongolian parliament elects PM after turmoil Archived 20 May 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  19. ↑ Investment Agreement on Oyu Tolgoi Deposit Signed Montsame, 6 October 2009
  20. ↑ "S.Batbold was elected as the party chairman". News.mn. 8 April 2010. Archived from the original on 10 April 2010. Retrieved 8 April 2010.
  21. ↑ "Mongolia anti-graft agency arrests two prime ministers amid mine probe". U.S. Reuters. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
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