The International

Federation of Journalists (IFJ) is alarmed by reports of the continuing

detention of Ulaanbaatar Times editor-in-chief Chuluunbaatar Dolgor, who has been in custody since his arrest

on March 24.

Chuluunbaatar, 51, was arrested on

charges of “illegal privatisation and serious damage of public property” for

his alleged involvement in the privatisation of the newspaper and its offices

in Ulaanbaatar

in 2008.

At the time Chuluunbaatar headed the

newspaper’s management privatisation team involved in the privatisation process

being conducted by the Capital City Privatisation Commission. He was appointed

as editor-in-chief in 2008 at a time when the newspaper was in a dire financial

situation and its offices had been partly destroyed.

Mongolian media reported in 2008 that

the building had been privatised by former President Enkhbayar Nambar.

Enkhbayar was later defeated at Mongolia’s

May 24, 2009 presidential election. The Ulaanbaatar Times offices had formerly housed the

Mongolian Government’s printing facility.

Chuluunbaatar, who is also Secretary

General of IFJ affiliate the Confederation of Mongolian Journalists, faces up

to 15 years in prison if found guilty. The journalist denies any wrongdoing in

the case, and claims to have been asked by investigators on several occasions

to reveal “who is behind” his actions.

Meidcal staff at the Detention Centre

No. 461 where Chuluunbaatar is detained confirmed on April 27 the prognosis that

he has serious health problems requiring urgent treatment to safeguard his life

made by Shagdarsuren private hospital on April 2. The journalist has been

denied bail on nine separate occasions.

“The IFJ is alarmed by the refusal

to grant Chuluunbaatar bail, despite the seriousness of the concerns for his

health,” IFJ Asia-Pacific Director

Jacqueline Park said. 

“We call for his immediate release

from detention and full transparency in the case being brought against him.”

For further

information contact IFJ Asia-Pacific

on +61 2 9333 0919

The IFJ

represents more than 600,000 journalists in 131 countries

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IFJ on Twitter: @ifjasiapacific

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