View source for Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj

{{Short description|4th President of Mongolia from 2009 to 2017}}
{{family name hatnote|Elbegdorj|Tsakhia|lang=Mongolian}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2022}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name                = Elbegdorj Tsakhia
| native_name         = {{nobold|Цахиагийн Элбэгдорж}}
| image               = Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj (3x4 cropped).jpg
| caption             = Official portrait, 2009
| order               = 4th
| office              = President of Mongolia
| primeminister       = {{ubl|[[Sanjaagiin Bayar]]|[[Sükhbaataryn Batbold]]|[[Norovyn Altankhuyag]]|[[Chimediin Saikhanbileg]]|[[Jargaltulgyn Erdenebat]]}}
| term_start          = 18 June 2009
| term_end            = 10 July 2017
| predecessor         = [[Nambaryn Enkhbayar]]
| successor           = [[Khaltmaagiin Battulga]]
| order1              = 21st & 25th
| office1             = Prime Minister of Mongolia
| president1          = {{ubl|[[Natsagiin Bagabandi]]|Nambaryn Enkhbayar}}
| term_start1         = 20 August 2004
| term_end1           = 13 January 2006
| predecessor1        = Nambaryn Enkhbayar
| successor1          = [[Miyeegombyn Enkhbold]]
| president2          = Natsagiin Bagabandi
| term_start2         = 23 April 1998
| term_end2           = 9 December 1998
| predecessor2        = [[Mendsaikhany Enkhsaikhan]]
| successor2          = [[Janlavyn Narantsatsralt]]
| office3             = Member of the [[People's Great Khural]]
| term_start3         = 1990
| term_end3           = 1992
| office4             = Member of the [[State Little Khural]]
| term_start4         = 1990
| term_end4           = 1992
| office5             = Member of the [[State Great Khural]]
| term_start5         = 1992
| term_end5           = 1994
| constituency5       = [[Khövsgöl Province]]
| term_start6         = 1996
| term_end6           = 2000
| constituency6       = [[Bayankhongor Province]]
| term_start7         = 2008
| term_end7           = 2009
| constituency7       = [[Chingeltei|Ulaanbaatar, Chingeltei district]]
| birth_date          = {{birth date and age|1963|3|30|df=y}}
| birth_place         = [[Zereg]], [[Mongolian People's Republic]]
| death_date          = 
| death_place         = 
| party               = [[Democratic Party (Mongolia)|Democratic]]
| otherparty          = [[Democratic Union Coalition (1996–2000)|Democratic Union]] (until 2000)
| spouse              = [[Khajidsuren Bolormaa]]
| children            = 25 (21 adopted)
| alma_mater          = {{cslist|[[Hetman Petro Sahaidachnyi National Ground Forces Academy]]|[[University of Colorado Boulder]]|[[Harvard University]]}}
| website             = {{URL|http://www.elbegdorj.mn/}}
| signature           = Signature of Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj.svg
| allegiance          = Mongolian People's Republic
| branch              = [[Mongolian People's Army]]
| rank                = 
| serviceyears        = 1982–1983
| native_name_lang    = mn
}}

'''Elbegdorj Tsakhia''' ({{langx|mn|Цахиагийн Элбэгдорж}};{{efn|{{ipac-en|ˌ|ɛ|l|b|ɛ|g|d|ɔr|dʒ|_|ˈ|t|s|æ|x|i|ə}} {{respell|EL|beg|dorj|_|TSAKH|ee|ə}}; {{IPA|mn|t͡sʰæçʲɐˌɟiŋ ˈiɮpɪktɜrt͡ɕ|mn}}}} born 30 March 1963) is a Mongolian politician and journalist who served as the 4th [[President of Mongolia]] from 2009 to 2017. He previously served as [[Prime Minister of Mongolia|prime minister]] in 1998 and again from 2004 to 2006.

Elbegdorj was one of the key leaders of the [[1990 Mongolian democratic revolution]] that ended 70 years of [[Communist Mongolia|communist rule in Mongolia]], and co-drafted the country's [[Constitution of Mongolia|1992 constitution]] that guaranteed democracy and a [[free market economy]]. Elbegdorj has been labeled by his supporters as a "freedom fighter"<ref>{{cite web|title=Elbegdorj: From freedom fighter to Mongolian statesman|url=http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/2/9/74981/World/International/Elbegdorj-From-freedom-fighter-to-Mongolian-states.aspx|access-date=7 January 2014}}</ref> and the "Golden Sparrow of Democracy," alluding to a bird that comes with spring sunshine after a long, harsh winter.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ts.Elbegdorj's work evaluated and "task" was given to him to finish what he began to implement|last=B.|first=Unurtogtokh|url=http://www.mminfo.mn/content/46585.shtml?alias=politics|publisher=mminfo.mn (in Mongolian)|access-date=10 August 2013|date=10 July 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130714113941/http://www.mminfo.mn/content/46585.shtml?alias=politics|archive-date=14 July 2013}}</ref>

Currently, Elbegdorj is a member of [[The Elders (organization)|The Elders]] – established by [[Nelson Mandela]] in 2007 – that works for peace, justice, human rights and a sustainable planet.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Elders welcome Elbegdorj Tsakhia as their latest member|url=https://theelders.org/news/elders-welcome-elbegdorj-tsakhia-their-latest-member |publisher=The Elders|date=17 October 2022|access-date=29 January 2023}}</ref> Moreover, he is a member of [[Club de Madrid]] which commits to advancing democracy worldwide.<ref>{{cite web|title=World Forum for Democracy 2022:speakers Tsakhia ELBEGDORJ Presenter: Plenary Session 1 – S.O.S Democracy in Distress|url=https://www.coe.int/en/web/world-forum-democracy/speakers-2022/-/asset_publisher/JTQ3V5aITSo7/content/elbegdorj-tsakhia/|publisher=World Forum for Democracy|date=7 November 2022|access-date=29 January 2023}}</ref> In addition, Elbegdorj is a commissioner of International Commission Against Death Penalty.<ref>{{cite web|title=Human Rights Council Holds Biennial High-Level Panel Discussion on the Question of the Death Penalty/|url=https://www.ohchr.org/en/2021/02/human-rights-council-holds-biennial-high-level-panel-discussion-question-death-penalty#:~:text=TSAKHIA%20ELBEGDORJ%2C%20Commissioner%20of%20the%20International%20Commission%20against,of%20reinstating%20the%20death%20penalty%20in%20some%20countries|publisher=United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights|date=23 February 2021|access-date=29 January 2023}}</ref>
Furthermore, he is a vice chairman of [[International Democracy Union]] -an international alliance of centre right political parties.<ref>{{cite web|title=Elbegdorj Tsakhiagiin–Vice Chairman|date=16 February 2018 |url=https://www.idu.org/leadership/elbegdorj-tsakhiagiin/|publisher=International Democracy Union|access-date=6 July 2024}}</ref> Elbegdorj is a patron of World Sustainable Development Forum.<ref>{{cite web|title=Members of WSDF|date=7 May 2019 |url=https://worldsdf.org/wsdf-members/|access-date=6 July 2024}}</ref> He is the Bernard and Susan Liautaud visiting fellow at [[Stanford University]]'s [[Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Elbegdorj Tsakhia Appointed the Bernard and Susan Liautaud Visiting Fellow|url=https://fsi.stanford.edu/news/elbegdorj-tsakhia-appointed-bernard-and-susan-liautaud-visiting-fellow|author=Ronkin, Noa|date=30 Jan 2023|access-date=6 July 2024}}</ref> Elbegdorj is a president of World Mongol Federation - an international federation of Mongols around the world.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ts.Elbegdorj, President of the World Mongol Federation: Appeal for all Mongols|url=https://worldmongol.org/en/3731/|date=27 Sep 2022|access-date=6 July 2024}}</ref>

His tenure has focused on [[Anti-corruption|fighting corruption]], [[environmental protection]],<ref>{{cite web|title=Asia Foundation Hosts His Excellency President Elbegdorj of Mongolia|url=http://asiafoundation.org/news/2011/06/asia-foundation-hosts-his-excellency-president-elbegdorj-of-mongolia/|publisher=Asia Foundation|date=14 June 2011|access-date=29 June 2013}}</ref> [[Women's rights in Mongolia|women's rights]],<ref name="Empower Women">{{cite news|title=At General debate, Mongolia's President calls for more women in leadership positions|url=https://news.un.org/en/story/2012/09/421382 |access-date=6 March 2022|publisher=UN News Centre|date=27 September 2012}}</ref> [[judicial reform]], [[civic engagement]],<ref>{{cite news|last=Namjilsangarav|first=Ganbat|title=Mongolian leader re-elected on anti-graft agenda|url=http://www.boston.com/news/world/asia/2013/06/27/incumbent-wins-mongolia-presidential-election/sgyLaT9Fq42nmhHsqMWBhN/story.html/|newspaper=The Boston Globe|place=Boston, MA|date=27 June 2013|access-date=29 June 2013}}</ref> [[economic liberalization]] and [[privatization]], [[property rights]], and the abolition of the [[Capital punishment in Mongolia|death penalty]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Mongolia leader calls for end to death penalty|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8458717.stm |publisher=BBC|date=14 January 2010|access-date=29 June 2013}}</ref>

Elbegdorj is the founder of the ''Ardchilal'' (English: ''Democracy'') newspaper – the country's first independent newspaper – and helped to establish the first independent television station in Mongolia.<ref name="Facts on File">{{cite web|title=Elbegdorj, Tsakhiagiin|url=http://www.fofweb.com/WGCO/CapitalDisplay.aspx?Type=c&iPin=atlasb239|publisher=Facts on File|access-date=25 June 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj "The Pioneer of Mongolian Democracy"|url=http://www.mongolia-web.com/1151-tsakhiagiin-elbegdorj-pioneer-mongolian-democracy|publisher=Mongolia-web.com|access-date=29 June 2013|date=11 July 2007|archive-date=11 May 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130511160524/http://www.mongolia-web.com/1151-tsakhiagiin-elbegdorj-pioneer-mongolian-democracy|url-status=dead}}</ref>

== Early life and education ==
Elbegdorj was born into a nomadic herding family in [[Zereg, Khovd|Zereg]] [[sums of Mongolia|sum]], [[Khovd Province|Khovd province]], on 30 March 1963. He was the youngest of eight sons. Elbegdorj spent most of his early childhood herding livestock through the high mountains of Zereg sum.<ref name="Ganchimeg">{{cite journal|last=B|first=Ganchimeg|title=Ts.Elbegdorj: Key achievement of past four years is – Sustainability|journal=Politics.time.mn(in Mongolian)|location=Ulaanbaatar|url=http://politics.time.mn/content/24931.shtml|access-date=21 June 2013|date=13 February 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130216102144/http://politics.time.mn/content/24931.shtml|archive-date=16 February 2013}}</ref> His father, Mongolyn Tsakhia, was a veteran of [[Soviet-Japanese border conflict|Mongolia's border conflict]] with the [[Empire of Japan]] that resulted in the 1939 [[Battle of Khalkhyn Gol]]. Elbegdorj finished the sum's eight-year school (Primary & middle school) in 1979. Afterwards, his family moved to [[Erdenet]] City, and he finished Erdenet's No. 1 ten-year school (High school) in 1981.{{citation needed|date=November 2018}}

=== Army and studies in the USSR ===
In 1981–82, Elbegdorj worked in copper ore mining and processing plant Erdenet Concern (currently [[Erdenet Mining Corporation]]) as a machinist.<ref>{{cite web|title=Elbegdorj Tsakhia, President of Mongolia, Head of the National Security Council|url=http://www.nsc.gov.mn/?q=en/news/1&page=1|publisher=National Security Council of Mongolia|access-date=8 July 2013}}</ref> In 1982, he was drafted into military service. For submitting poems to the army newspaper ''[[Ulaan Od]]'' (Red Star), which impressed army authorities,<ref>{{cite news|title=Biographical Summary For Mongolian President-elect Elbegdorj|url=http://www.cablegatesearch.net/cable.php?id=09ULAANBAATAR160|publisher=cablegatesearch.net|date=4 June 2009|access-date=29 June 2013|archive-date=14 November 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121114211953/http://cablegatesearch.net/cable.php?id=09ULAANBAATAR160|url-status=dead}}</ref> and heading a Revolutionary Youth Unit in the army, he was awarded with the possibility to study military journalism and [[Marxism–Leninism]] at the USSR's Military Political Institute (present day - [[Hetman Petro Sahaidachnyi National Ground Forces Academy]]) under the umbrella of [[Lviv Polytechnic]] National University<ref>{{cite web|title=History of Academy|url=http://www.asv.gov.ua/content.php?lang=en&page=1_0|publisher=Army Academy named after hetman Petro Sahaydachyi|access-date=30 June 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131103101433/http://www.asv.gov.ua/content.php?lang=en&page=1_0|archive-date=3 November 2013}}</ref> in [[Lviv]], [[Ukraine]] from 1983 on.<ref>{{cite news|last=Brooke|first=James|title=The Saturday Profile; A Mongolian and His Nation, Evolving Together|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F06E4DA1E30F936A15751C1A9629C8B63&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all|newspaper=The New York Times|place=New York|date=25 December 2004|access-date=22 June 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Mongolia President Elbegdorj arrives in Lviv to start state visit|url=http://www.ukrainebusiness.com.ua/news/2653.html|publisher=Ukraine Business Online|date=28 June 2011|access-date=30 June 2013|archive-date=14 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150614154237/http://www.ukrainebusiness.com.ua/news/2653.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> He graduated from the academy in 1988 with a bachelor's degree in journalism<ref name="NED">{{cite web|url=http://www.ned.org/events/new-york-democracy-forum/new-york-democracy-forum-tsakhia-elbegdorj-and-roza-otunbayeva|title=The New York Democracy Forum: Mongolian President Tsakhia Elbegdorj, Kyrgyz President Roza Otunbayeva|publisher=National Endowment for Democracy|date=22 September 2011|access-date=29 June 2013}}</ref> and then began working for the newspaper ''Ulaan Od''.<ref>{{cite news|last=Oduha|first=Joseph|title=President of Mongolia Visits South Sudan|url=http://www.thechristiantimes.net/index.php?page=news&gid=134&category=Headlines|access-date=29 June 2013|newspaper=The Christian Times|place=Juba|date=13 February 2013}}</ref>

=== Harvard Kennedy School ===
After his first term as prime minister, he spent a year at the [[University of Colorado Boulder]]'s Economic Institute.<ref name="Reagan">{{cite news|last=Page|first=Susan|title=Reagan inspired Mongolia's president to seek democracy|newspaper=USA Today|place=McLean, VA|url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/washington/2011-01-19-ronald-reagan-mongolia-president_N.htm?csp=YahooModule_News|date=19 January 2011|access-date=7 July 2013}}</ref>  Then Elbegdorj studied with a full scholarship at Harvard University<ref name="Heads of State">{{cite web|title=Heads of State|publisher=Harvard University|url=http://www.harvard.edu/heads-state|access-date=6 July 2013}}</ref> and graduated from [[Harvard]]'s [[John F. Kennedy School of Government]] with a Master of Public Administration (MPA) in 2002.<ref name="Talan">{{cite web|last=Talan|first=Scott|title=Kennedy School graduate guides Mongolia into new era|publisher=Harvard Kennedy School|url=http://www.hks.harvard.edu/news-events/news/articles/kennedy-school-graduate-guides-mongolia-into-new-era|access-date=6 July 2013|date=24 September 2012}}</ref><ref name="Desai">{{cite news|last=Desai and Kaufman|first=Sagar and David W.|title=Mongolian President Talks Corruption And Human Rights|magazine=The Harvard Crimson|place=Cambridge, MA|url=http://www.thecrimson.com/article/2012/9/24/mongolian-president-institute-politics/|access-date=21 June 2013|date=5 January 2005}}</ref>

== Leading democratic movement ==
During his studies in the USSR, Elbegdorj learned about [[Glasnost]], the concepts such as freedom of speech and economic liberties. After returning to Mongolia, he met other like-minded people and tried to present those ideas to a wider audience,<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://amantuuh.socanth.cam.ac.uk/search/view_transcript.php?Interview=091102A&Person=990446|title=Interview with Akim Gotov ''(in Mongolian)''|publisher=The Oral History of Twentieth Century Mongolia, University of Cambridge|access-date=8 July 2013}}</ref> despite attempts of repression from the Politburo-authority of the government,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.civicvoices.org/UserFiles/khaidav%20sangijav%20edited%20formatted.pdf|title=Transcript of interview with Khaidav Sangijav|publisher=Civic Voices|pages=6|access-date=8 July 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140116123941/http://www.civicvoices.org/UserFiles/khaidav%20sangijav%20edited%20formatted.pdf|archive-date=16 January 2014}}</ref> and threats by his employer to lose his job. At the end of a speech at the Young Artists' Second National Congress on 28 November 1989, Elbegdorj said that Mongolia needed democracy and appealed to youth to collaborate to create democracy in Mongolia. He told the audience "We consider that [[Perestroika]] is a timely and brave step. Youth's contribution to this revolutionary matter is not by supportive talks but by certain work. Our contribution is our objectives to be fulfilled. Our objectives are:&nbsp;... following democracy and transparency and contributing to glasnost,&nbsp;... and supporting fair progressive power&nbsp;... These are the objectives of an initiatives' group-an organization that shall work. After the congress I hope we will gather and discuss with you about it in this (newly forming group). The organization shall be based on public, voluntary and democratic principles."<ref name="young artists">{{cite book|last=Tsakhia |first=Elbegdorj|title=The Footstep of Truth is White book "Speech of Ulaan Od newspaper's correspondent Elbegdorj at Young Artists' Second National Congress"|publisher=Hiimori |place=Ulaanbaatar|year=1999 |page=15|isbn=99929-74-01-X}}</ref>

The chairman of the congress stopped Elbegdorj's speech and warned him not to say such things. It was 1989 and Mongolia had been a communist country for 68 years.<ref>{{cite news|last=Tseveen and Ganbold|first=Odgerel and Battsetseg|title=The Mongolian legal system and laws: a brief overview|magazine=GlobaLex|place=New York|url=http://www.nyulawglobal.org/globalex/mongolia.htm|access-date=8 July 2013|date=January 2006}}</ref> At that time, it was alleged that every other person was an unofficial communist party spy who would report people who expressed opinions other than socialism and communism.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mongol.undesten.mn/wiki/show/name/%D0%AD%D0%BB%D0%B1%D1%8D%D0%B3%D0%B4%D0%BE%D1%80%D0%B6+%D0%A6%D0%B0%D1%85%D0%B8%D0%B0%D0%B3%D0%B8%D0%B9%D0%BD|title=Elbegdorj, Tsakhiagiin|publisher=National Digital Heritage Academy (in Mongolian)|access-date=8 July 2013|archive-date=11 September 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130911030925/http://mongol.undesten.mn/wiki/show/name/%D0%AD%D0%BB%D0%B1%D1%8D%D0%B3%D0%B4%D0%BE%D1%80%D0%B6+%D0%A6%D0%B0%D1%85%D0%B8%D0%B0%D0%B3%D0%B8%D0%B9%D0%BD|url-status=dead}}</ref> During the break of the congress, two young individuals met Elbegdorj and the three agreed to found a democratic movement and to secretly spread the news to other young people.<ref>{{cite news
|url=http://tsagtur.mn/2013-03-22-03-36-25/|title=Ch.Enkhee: Special western agencies financially supported|magazine=Tsag Tur(Time and the country) (in Mongolian)|place=Ulaanbaatar|last=S.|first=Bayar|date=22 March 2013|access-date=8 July 2013}}</ref> Later the three met and united with ten other individuals and they are known as the Thirteen Leaders of Mongolia's Democratic Revolution.<ref>{{cite news
|url=http://humuus.mn/?p=1970|title=What are the "First 13 of Democracy" doing?|newspaper=Humuus (People) (in Mongolian)|place=Ulaanbaatar|last=M.|first=Gal|access-date=8 July 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Sanders|first=Alan J.K.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5JN83EDDLl4C&q=elbegdorj&pg=PA231|title=Historical Dictionary of Mongolia. Third edition|publisher=Scarecrow Press|place=Lanham, MD |page=230|year=2010|access-date=25 June 2013|isbn=978-0-8108-7452-7}}</ref> On his return from Congress, his boss at the newspaper ''Ulaan Od'' warned Elbegdorj that he would be fired if he participated further in any activities out of work or engaged in any conduct inconsistent with communist and socialist ideology.<ref name="young artists" /> Despite the warning, Elbegdorj and his friends met secretly with other young people in the circle auditorium of the [[National University of Mongolia]] and discussed democracy, free market economic policy, and other prohibited subjects of the time, and began to draft a plan to organize a democratic movement.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.civicvoices.org/UserFiles/khaidav%20sangijav%20edited%20formatted.pdf|title=Transcript of interview with Khaidav Sangijav|publisher=Civic Voices|pages=5|access-date=8 July 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140116123941/http://www.civicvoices.org/UserFiles/khaidav%20sangijav%20edited%20formatted.pdf|archive-date=16 January 2014}}</ref> They met many times and brought new friends and new supporters to join them secretly. One night they placed ads for their open demonstration in the streets.<ref name="young artists" />

On the morning of 10 December 1989, the first open pro-democracy demonstration met in front of the Youth Cultural Center in Ulaanbaatar.<ref>{{cite news|last=G.|first=Dari|title=Democracy Days to be inaugurated|publisher=news.mn (in Mongolian)|url=http://politics.news.mn/content/89237.shtml|access-date=8 July 2013|date=5 December 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120110172038/http://politics.news.mn/content/89237.shtml|archive-date=10 January 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> There, Elbegdorj announced the creation of the [[Mongolian Democratic Union]].<ref name="CDMongolia">{{cite web|title=Tsakhia Elbegdorj|publisher=Community of Democracies Mongolia|url=http://cdmongolia.mn/tsakhia-elbegdorj/#.UdovIfmmiAg|access-date=8 July 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130610155307/http://cdmongolia.mn/tsakhia-elbegdorj/#.UdovIfmmiAg|archive-date=10 June 2013}}</ref> The Mongolian Democratic Union founders publicly petitioned the government for a real implementation of perestroika, including allowing a multi-party system, the total implementation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in all party and government affairs.<ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite book|last=S. and S.|first=Amarsanaa & Mainbayar|title=Concise Historical Album of the Mongolian Democratic Union|year=2009|pages=10, 19}}</ref> In subsequent months activists led by Elbegdorj and others continued to organize demonstrations, rallies, protests and hunger strikes, as well as teachers' and workers' strikes.<ref name="Politburo">{{cite book|title=Parliaments in Asia|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=slpaAe40kn0C&q=politburo+resignation+led+to+first+multi+party+election+in+mongolia&pg=PA143|last=Ahmed and Norton|first=Nizam U. and Philip|page=143|publisher=Frank Cass & Co.Ltd|place=London|isbn=0-7146-4951-1|access-date=8 July 2013|year=1999}}</ref> Activists had growing support from Mongolians, both in the capital and the countryside and the union's activities led to other calls for democracy all over the country.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://baabar.niitlelch.mn/content/112.shtml|title=Democratic Revolution and Its Terrible Explanations|author=Baabar|publisher=baabar.mn (in Mongolian)|date=16 November 2009|access-date=25 June 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121227133854/http://baabar.niitlelch.mn/content/112.shtml|archive-date=27 December 2012|author-link=Baabar}}</ref><ref name="Democracy's Hero">{{cite web|title=Democracy's Hero: Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj|url=http://www.iri.org/news-events-press-center/news/democracy%E2%80%99s-hero-tsakhiagiin-elbegdorj|publisher=The International Republican Institute|location=Washington|date=21 July 2011|access-date=8 August 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120428055254/http://www.iri.org/news-events-press-center/news/democracy%E2%80%99s-hero-tsakhiagiin-elbegdorj|archive-date=28 April 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Mongolia Celebrates 20th Anniversary of Democratic Revolution|url=http://www.iri.org/news-events-press-center/news/mongolia-celebrates-20th-anniversary-democratic-revolution|publisher=The International Republican Institute|access-date=8 August 2012|date=11 December 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101219062034/http://iri.org/news-events-press-center/news/mongolia-celebrates-20th-anniversary-democratic-revolution|archive-date=19 December 2010}}</ref>

After numerous demonstrations of many thousands of people in the capital city as well as provincial centres, the [[Mongolian People's Party|Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party]]'s Politburo – the authority of the government – eventually gave way to the pressure and entered negotiations with the leaders of the democratic movement.<ref>{{cite news|last=Wilhelm|first=Kathy|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1298&dat=19900312&id=H-FLAAAAIBAJ&pg=4798,2084369|title=Mongolian Politburo resigns en masse|pages=4|newspaper=The Free Lance Star|place=Fredericksburg, VA|date=12 March 1990|access-date=8 July 2013}}</ref> [[Jambyn Batmönkh]], chairman of Politburo of MPRP's Central Committee decided to dissolve the Politburo and to resign on 9 March 1990.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2199&dat=19900312&id=QkUyAAAAIBAJ&pg=4637,3539885|title=Entire Mongolian Politburo resigns|newspaper=Lawrence Journal-World|pages=8A|place=Lawrence, KS|date=12 March 1990|access-date=8 July 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Ch.|first=Munkhbayar|url=http://news.dorgio.mn/politics/other/772|title=What was the Mongolian democratic revolution?|publisher=dorgio.mn (in Mongolian)|date=13 March 2013|access-date=8 July 2013|archive-date=6 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200506062224/https://www.dorgio.mn/p/772|url-status=dead}}</ref> This paved the way for the first multi-party elections in Mongolia.<ref name="Politburo" /> Elbegdorj announced this news to the hunger strikers and to people who'd gathered on [[Sükhbaatar Square]] at 10 PM on that day after the negotiations between leaders of MPRP and Mongolian Democratic Union.<ref name="young artists" /> As a result, Mongolia became the first Asia country to successfully transition from communist rule to democracy.<ref>{{cite web|first=Ganbat|last=Gamba|title=The Mass Public and Democratic Politics in Mongolia|url=http://www.asianbarometer.org/newenglish/publications/workingpapers/no.29.pdf|publisher=Asian Barometer|page=3|year=2004|location=Taipei|volume=Working Paper Series: No. 29|access-date=8 July 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531184323/http://www.asianbarometer.org/newenglish/publications/workingpapers/no.29.pdf|archive-date=31 May 2011}}</ref> Elbegdorj worked as the Leader of the Mongolian Democratic Union in 1989–1997.<ref name="Sanders 2010 209">{{cite book|last=Sanders|first=Alan J.K.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5JN83EDDLl4C&q=elbegdorj&pg=PA231|title=Historical Dictionary of Mongolia. Third edition|publisher=Scarecrow Press|place=Lanham, MD |page=209|year=2010|access-date=25 June 2013|isbn=978-0-8108-7452-7}}</ref>

In a documentary film about the President (titled: "Man of the People") released in the year of the 25th-anniversary celebrations of the Mongolian democratic changes, President Elbegdorj tells the story of the historical political change and reinventing democracy.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_IT1LsHpTyY|title=Mongolia - Man of the People|last=Mongolia Documentary|date=29 July 2015|via=YouTube}}</ref>

== Journalism career ==
Elbegdorj worked as a correspondent at ''Ulaan Od''-newspaper of the [[Mongolian Armed Forces]] and as a chief of an army literature unit between 1988 and 1990.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ts.Elbegdorj|url=http://www.tsagaandarium.org/users/elbegdorjts|publisher=tsagaandarium.org|access-date=29 June 2013}}</ref> While in these positions, Elbegdorj wrote articles disclosing all the good and bad in the army units and suggested improvements for the army prior to democratic movement's beginning.<ref>{{cite web|last=Colonel P.|first=Byambasuren|title=Office Elbegdorj whom I know|url=http://www.24tsag.mn/content/34895.shtml|publisher=24tsag.mn (in Mongolian)|date=23 June 2013|access-date=8 July 2013}}</ref>

Elbegdorj founded Mongolia's first independent newspaper ''Ardchilal (Democracy)'' and worked as its first editor-in-chief in 1990.{{citation needed|date=July 2023}} The newspaper played a major role in completing the country's democratic revolution.<ref name="CDMongolia" /> He co-introduced freedom of the press in the country by co-initiating the Law on Press Freedom and playing a key role in passing the law in 1998.<ref name="Ukraine">{{cite web|title=Mongolia President Elbegdorj arrives in Lviv to start state visit|url=http://www.ukrainebusiness.com.ua/news/2653.html|publisher=Ukraine Business Online|date=28 June 2011|access-date=25 June 2013|archive-date=14 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150614154237/http://www.ukrainebusiness.com.ua/news/2653.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Elbegdorj also helped to create Mongolia's first independent TV station [[Eagle TV]] in 1994.<ref name="Facts on File" /> It was run by the former Mongolian Broadcasting Company, a joint venture of the U.S. Christian missionary organization AMONG Foundation, and the Mongolia Media Corporation.<ref>{{cite news|last=Ireland|first=Michael|title=Christian-owned Eagle television being broadcasting on Channel 8 in Mongolia|url=http://across.co.nz/MongoliaChristianTV.html|magazine=Across Pacific|place=Honolulu, HI|date=18 October 2005|access-date=7 July 2013}}</ref>

== Legislative career ==
Elbegdorj was elected to the Parliament four times, in 1990, 1992, 1996 and 2008.<ref>{{cite web|title=President of Mongolia|publisher=planetrulers.com|url=http://www.planetrulers.com/mongolia-president|access-date=8 July 2013|date=10 April 2010}}</ref> As a Member of the People's Congress, Elbegdorj co-drafted and co-adopted Mongolia's new Constitution on 13 January 1992.<ref>{{cite news|last=Anderson|first=Lindsay Hodges|title=From the Field: A New Democracy, Elbegdorj Tsakhia MC/MPA 2002|newspaper=Harvard Kennedy School Magazine|place=Cambridge, MA|url=http://www.hks.harvard.edu/news-events/publications/hks-magazine/archives/winter-2010/from-the-field-a-new-democracy|access-date=21 June 2013|date=Winter 2010}}</ref> The new Constitution guaranteed human rights, democracy, freedom of religion, and free speech.<ref name="Constitution">{{cite web|url= http://www.wipo.int/wipolex/en/details.jsp?id=3039|title=Constitution of Mongolia|publisher=World Intellectual Property Organization|date=13 January 1992|access-date=25 June 2013}}</ref> An international intellectual once referred Elbegdorj as "Mongolia's [[Thomas Jefferson]]."<ref>{{cite web|last=Miller|first=Vincent H.|title=From Communism to Capitalism in the Land of Genghis Khan|url=http://isil.org/aim/index.php/en/homepage/82-freedom-network-news/186-mongolia-discovers-freedom|access-date=29 June 2013}}</ref> Elbegdorj, as the chairman of the [[Democratic Party (Mongolia)|Democratic Party]], co-led the [[Democratic Union Coalition]] to its historic victory in the [[1996 Mongolian legislative election|1996 parliamentary elections]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Lawrence|first=Susan V.|publisher=Congressional Research Service|title=Mongolia: Issues for Congress|url=https://fas.org/sgp/crs/row/R41867.pdf|date=14 June 2011|access-date=25 June 2013}}</ref> He served as the Majority Leader of the [[State Great Hural]] (Parliament) in 1996–2000<ref name="1996-2000">{{cite web|url=http://e-mongolia.blogspot.com/2009_06_01_archive.html |title=Mongolian new president|publisher=e-mongolia.blogspot.com|date=21 June 2009|access-date=3 July 2013}}</ref> and as the Vice Speaker of the Parliament in 1996–1998.<ref>{{cite book|last=Sanders|first=Alan J.K.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5JN83EDDLl4C&q=elbegdorj+vice+speaker+1996&pg=PA231|title=Historical Dictionary of Mongolia. Third edition|publisher=Scarecrow Press|place=Lanham, MD|page=231|year=2010|access-date=3 July 2013|isbn=978-0-8108-7452-7}}</ref>

Elbegdorj founded and worked as the head of Mongolia's first Entrepreneurs Association in 1991 as well. The association helped to privatize livestock for free to their herders from the socialist collective farms. As a result, the first private property was given to almost half of Mongolia's entire population.<ref name="NED" /> He supported the privatization of state-owned properties and assets<ref>{{cite web|publisher=wisdomklub.miniih.com (in Mongolian)|title=Mongolian President Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj's brief biography|url=http://wisdomklub.miniih.com/index.php/home/post/127|date=14 September 2009|access-date=7 July 2013}}</ref> and land.<ref name="Land">{{cite news|last=Pocha|first=Jehangir S.|newspaper=The New York Times|place=New York|title=Mongolians test alien idea: Privatizing the land|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/26/world/asia/26iht-mongol.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0|date=27 May 2005|access-date=7 July 2013}}</ref>

While as the chairman of the State Commission on Rehabilitation, Elbegdorj initiated and brought the state to apologize for the victims and families of over 36,000 people who had been persecuted and mass massacred during the years of [[Mongolian People's Party]]'s communist rule.<ref>{{cite web |last=Ch.|first=Bolor|publisher=gogo.mn (in Mongolian)|title=Around Fourteen Thousand Monks Were Persecuted|url= http://news.gogo.mn/r/41294|date=9 September 2008|access-date=21 May 2009}}</ref> He played a key role in the approval of the Rehabilitation Law, which provided rehabilitation and compensation to the survivors and families of political victims, and recovery from the Stalinist purges and prohibited future violation of human rights. In addition, the law established a Memorial Day for Political Victims.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=Asia Pacific Securities|title=President of Mongolia Ts.Elbegdorj|url= http://www.mongolia-investment.com/news/political-news/1461?task=view&lang=en|access-date=25 June 2013}}</ref>

Furthermore, Elbegdorj was a member of the National Counseling Committee of the Democratic Party in 1994–2009; leader and chairman of the Democratic Party in 1996–1999, and April 2006 – September 2008 respectively; and chairman of the [[Democratic Union Coalition]] of the Mongolian National Democratic Party and Mongolian Social Democratic Party in 1996–2000.<ref name="Sanders 2010 209" />

== Prime minister ==
Elbegdorj served as the prime minister of Mongolia twice; 1998 and 2004–2006.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=North America- Mongolia Business Council|title=Canadian & US official delegations attend inauguration of President Elbegdorj; US Senate unanimously passes pro-Mongolia resolution on the same day|url=http://www.nambc.org/docs/elbegdorj-elected.html|date=18 June 2009|access-date=25 June 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131016075329/http://www.nambc.org/docs/elbegdorj-elected.html|archive-date=16 October 2013}}</ref>

=== First term as prime minister ===
In 1998, a clause in the constitution was removed that prohibited members of parliament from taking cabinet responsibility.<ref name="Constitution" /> Thus on 23 April 1998, the Parliament elected (61–6) Elbegdorj as the prime minister.<ref>{{cite web|title=April 1998|url=http://rulers.org/1998-04.html|publisher=rulers.org|date=April 1998|access-date=21 May 2009}}</ref> During his first term, Elbegdorj attempted to solve looming economic, structural and political issues through several policy initiatives such as co-initiating Law on Press Freedom and playing a key role to pass the law in 1998.<ref name="Ukraine" /> Based on this law, another law was passed that changed all daily state newspapers into public newspapers without direct control and censorship from the government.<ref>{{cite web|title=Mongolian Law on Privatizing Dissolved ''Ardiin erkh (Daily News)'' and ''Zasgiin gazriin medee (Government News)'' newspapers|url=http://www.legalinfo.mn/law/details/472?lawid=472|publisher=legalinfo.mn|date=22 January 1999|access-date=7 July 2013}}</ref>

Elbegdorj's most significant achievement during his first term as prime minister was to collect tax and create tax income. The biggest taxpayer and only significant income contributor to the government's budget at the time was the copper ore mining and processing Erdenet Mining Corporation(EMC) – a joint stock company owned by the governments of Mongolia and the Russian Federation. EMC hadn't paid due tax, income and royalty to Mongolia's government between 1997 and 1998 which resulted in the financial crumbling of the government.<ref>{{cite web|last=CA|first=Jeff|url= http://seekingalpha.com/user/5515511/comments/highest-rated|title=Comment on SouthGobi Executive Under Exit Ban|publisher=Seeking Alpha|date=31 January 2013|access-date=25 June 2013}}</ref> Because of it, previous prime minister Enkhsaikhan stepped down due to pressure from the opposition party, MPRP. After becoming prime minister, Elbegdorj ordered an audit of EMC. The audit result revealed that the state-due income did not enter the state account, instead, it went to dubious accounts of directors at EMC. This embezzlement case was reported in detail in investigative series "Swindle of the Century" on Eagle television.<ref>{{cite news|last=Kohn|first=Michael|url=http://www.asuult.net/nemesis/mongolian_judiciary/newseagle.htm|title=Mongolian Christian TV Station Shuts Down|agency=Associated Press|place=New York|date=10 June 2003|access-date=30 June 2013}}</ref> Elbegdorj dismissed the EMC's chairman. As a result, the government began to receive due tax, royalty and income from the EMC.<ref name="Baabar">{{cite book|author=Baabar|chapter-url=http://baabar.niitlelch.mn/content/168.shtml|title=Mongolians: Movement and Settlement (''in Mongolian'')|publisher=Nepko |place=Ulaanbaatar|volume=5|chapter=Year of 98-Continuing|year=2009|access-date=7 July 2013}}</ref>

In addition, at the recommendations of international financial institutions such as the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank – aid granters to Mongolia, and discount interest rate loan giver Asian Development Bank,<ref name="Baabar" /> Elbegdorj made a decision to sell state-owned Reconstruction Bank which became illiquid and was experiencing tremendous loss, the biggest financial burden to the economy since its establishment in 1997.<ref>{{cite book|author=Baabar|chapter-url=http://baabar.blogspot.com/2009/01/blog-post_19.html|title=Mongolians: Movement and Settlement (''in Mongolian'')|publisher=Nepko |place=Ulaanbaatar|volume=5|chapter=Year of 98-Part 3|year=2009|access-date=7 July 2013}}</ref> [[Golomt Bank]] was the only one that offered to buy Reconstruction Bank.<ref>{{cite book|author=Baabar|chapter-url=http://baabar.blogspot.com/2009/01/blog-post.html|title=Mongolians: Movement and Settlement (''in Mongolian'')|publisher=Nepko |place=Ulaanbaatar|volume=5|chapter=Year of 98-Part 2|year=2009|access-date=7 July 2013}}</ref>

In response to this and the change of EMC's chairman,<ref name="Baabar" /> the minority group at the Parliament MPRP demanded Elbegdorj to resign and thus resulted Elbegdorj to lose confidence vote at the Parliament.<ref>{{cite book|last=Sanders|first=Alan J.K.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5JN83EDDLl4C&q=elbegdorj+reconstruction+bank&pg=PR68 |title=Historical Dictionary of Mongolia. Third edition|publisher=Scarecrow Press|place=Lanham, MD |page=xviii|year=2010|access-date=25 June 2013|isbn=978-0-8108-7452-7}}</ref> The Parliament had prevented Elbegdorj's government from selling the bank. Elbegdorj's decision to sell the Reconstruction Bank was proven to be correct. The bank bankrupted soon after Elbegdorj's first term as prime minister was over and the bankruptcy led the government to suffer a gigantic amount of financial loss.<ref name="Baabar" /> Moreover, Elbegdorj made a decision to financially assist from a tight budget to complete the construction of Mongolia's first Wrestling Palace which was half built for a long time.<ref>{{cite web|last=D.|first=Oyun|url=http://www.olloo.mn/modules.php?name=News&file=print&sid=1228000|title=Youth of Tuv province hands over 1000 letters supporting the Democratic President|publisher=olloo.mn (in Mongolian)|date=12 June 2013|access-date=7 July 2013}}</ref> He stayed in office until Janlavyn Narantsatsralt replaced him on 9 December 1998.<ref>{{cite book|last=Kohn|first=Michael|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-UnWOmL1a48C&q=elbegdorj+narantsatsralt&pg=PA109|title=Dateline Mongolia: An American Journalist in Nomad's Land|publisher=RDR Books|place=Muskegon, MI|page=109|year=2006|access-date=25 June 2013|isbn=978-1-57143-155-4}}</ref>

=== 1998–2004 ===
Elbegdorj served as the chairman of the Majority Group of the Parliament and the leader of the Democratic Union Coalition and a Member of Parliament respectively from 1996–2000.<ref name="1996-2000" />

In 2000–2001, he studied at the [[University of Colorado Boulder]]'s Economic Institute,<ref name="Reagan" /> and earned a diploma. Then he studied with a full scholarship of Harvard University at [[Harvard]]'s<ref name="Heads of State"/> [[John F. Kennedy School of Government]] and graduated with a Master of Public Administration (M.P.A.) in 2002.<ref name="Desai" />

Then he worked as a consultant at the Millennium Development Goal Project, United Nations Headquarters in [[New York City]] and as a consultant at Radio Free Asia in [[Washington, D.C.]] in 2002–2003.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tsagaandarium.org/users/elbegdorjts|title=Ts.Elbegdorj|publisher=tsagaandarium.org|year=2012|access-date=5 January 2014}}</ref> Afterwards, he returned to Mongolia and made series of public speeches touring in Mongolian provinces inspiring the people and the youth sharing his new ideas and perspectives based on his knowledge from Harvard University and the United States in combination with Mongolian way of life in 2003–2004.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hks.harvard.edu/news-events/news/alumni/tsakhiagiin-elbegdorj|title=Mongolian President Discusses Personal Liberty in a Free Country at JFK Jr. Forum|publisher=Harvard Kennedy School|date=24 September 2012|access-date=5 January 2014|archive-date=6 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140106032909/http://www.hks.harvard.edu/news-events/news/alumni/tsakhiagiin-elbegdorj|url-status=dead}}</ref> His lectures played a significant role to make [[Democratic Party (Mongolia)|Democratic Party]] get majority seats in [[2004 Mongolian legislative election|2004 Mongolian Parliamentary elections]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Enkhtsag|first=Enerel|url=http://enerel.niitlelch.mn/content/4482.shtml |title=Output of Harvard (in Mongolian)|publisher=enerel.niitlelch.mn|date=12 October 2012|access-date=5 January 2014}}</ref>

=== Second term as prime minister ===
On 20 August 2004, Elbegdorj became the prime minister of Mongolia for the second time.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.forum.mn/en/p_print.php?obj_id=489|title=Ts. Elbegdorj is Prime Minister (August 20, 2004)|publisher=Open Society Forum|date=20 August 2004|access-date=7 July 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304030752/http://www.forum.mn/en/p_print.php?obj_id=489|archive-date=4 March 2016}}</ref> This time, he headed a grand coalition government after the vote in the [[2004 Mongolian legislative election|parliamentary elections]] had been evenly split between the two major political forces – Democratic Coalition and the Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party.<ref>{{cite web|last=Zuckerman|first=Ethan|url=http://www.ethanzuckerman.com/blog/2006/01/13/its-never-to-cold-to-riot-in-ulaanbaatar/|title=It is never too cold to riot in Ulaanbaatar|publisher=ethanzuckerman.com|date=13 January 2006|access-date=25 June 2013}}</ref>
[[File:Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj and George W. Bush.jpg|thumb|left|315px|U.S. President [[George W. Bush]] meets Mongolian Prime Minister Elbegdorj in Ulaanbaatar on 21 November 2005]]
U.S. President [[George W. Bush]] highlighted about Elbegdorj as one of the country's democratic leaders to have been serving as the prime minister in his speech in Ulaanbaatar on 21 November 2005.<ref>{{cite web |last=Bush|first=George W.|date=21 November 2005 |title=President Discusses Freedom and Democracy in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia|publisher=U.S. Department of State|url= http://2001-2009.state.gov/p/eap/rls/rm/2005/57239.htm|access-date=30 June 2013}}</ref> "The world needs more people such as yourself who are willing to admire liberty," President Bush wrote to Elbegdorj immediately after his visit to Mongolia.<ref>{{cite web |last=Bush|first=George W.|date=5 December 2005|title=Bush writes Elbegdorj|publisher=mongolia-web.com|url=http://www.mongolia-web.com/30-bush-writes-elbegdorj|access-date=1 July 2013}}</ref>

During Elbegdorj's term, on 27 January 2005, the government-controlled National State Television and Radio were converted into formally independent public organisations with increasingly smaller control by the government.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legalinfo.mn/law/details/424?lawid=424|title=Law on Public Radio and Televisions|publisher=legalinfo.mn (in Mongolian)|date=27 January 2005| access-date=9 July 2013}}</ref> Also, legal provisions that prohibited demonstrations on Ulaanbaatar's [[Sükhbaatar Square]] were abolished on 17 November 2005.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.legalinfo.mn/law/details/252?lawid=252|title=Law on Rules of Demonstration and Public Gatherings. Its Article 7.2 that prohibited public demo on Sükhbaatar Sq. was voided on 17 November 2005|publisher=legalinfo.mn (in Mongolian)|date=7 July 1994|access-date=9 July 2013}}</ref>

In his second term as prime minister, Elbegdorj proclaimed a fight against corruption and poverty, which he saw as the biggest challenges to Mongolia's economic development.<ref>{{cite web|title=Mongolia and Burma|magazine=Congressional Record Online|url=http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CREC-2004-10-05/html/CREC-2004-10-05-pt1-PgS10419-3.htm|access-date=25 June 2013|date=5 October 2004|page=Volume 150. Number 124. Senate. Page S10419}}</ref> Elbegdorj's government signed the [[United Nations Convention Against Corruption]] in April 2005 and ratified it in January 2006.<ref>{{cite web|title=Report: Mongolia, Chapter: IV. Governance issues. Open Government|publisher=Privacy International|url=https://www.privacyinternational.org/reports/mongolia/iv-governance-issues|access-date=1 August 2013|date=12 December 2006}}</ref> His administration revealed the Customs chairman's corruption case amounting to millions of dollars from which the ex-chairman donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to the MPRP in 2005.<ref name="tsag.mn">{{cite web|title=Baatar's secret chairman seems Ch.Ulaan|publisher=tsag.mn (in Mongolian)|url=http://www.tsag.mn/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=6380&Itemid=459|access-date=23 June 2013|date=26 April 2012}}</ref>

Elbegdorj attempted to support domestic businesses by eliminating excessive regulations, many licensing requirements, and import taxes for key category products.<ref>{{cite news|title=Elections and Position of Parties|date=18 January 2008|newspaper=Onoodriin toim|trans-newspaper=Today's Briefing|language=mn|location=Ulaanbaatar|url=http://www.onair2.tv/www/index.php?action=news.view&newsId=7765|access-date=21 May 2009|archive-date=6 October 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111006222708/http://www.onair2.tv/www/index.php?action=news.view&newsId=7765|url-status=dead}}</ref> Mongolia was accepted into the [[European Union]]'s [[Generalized System of Preferences|GSP+]] system,<ref>{{cite journal|url= http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2005:337:0050:0050:EN:PDF|journal=Official Journal of the European Union|place=Luxembourg|title=Commission Decision of 21 December 2005 |date=21 December 2005|access-date=28 May 2009}}</ref> which allows Mongolian exporters to pay lower customs tariffs when exporting to the European Union during Elbegdorj's term as prime minister.

To promote affordable computers and internet access, Elbegdorj established the Information and Communication Agency under the government. He subsidized and supported technical schools and specialized professions to reduce unemployment.<ref>{{cite web|title=Prime Minister Elbegdorj's speech|date=3 October 2005|publisher=Union of Mongolian Students in South Korea (in Mongolian)|url=http://www.cmox.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=89|access-date=8 July 2013}}</ref> By a decision of his government English replaced Russian as the first foreign language to be taught in public schools.<ref>{{cite news |last=Brooke|first=James |date=15 February 2005|title=For Mongolians, E Is for English, F Is for Future|newspaper=The New York Times |place=New York |url= https://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/15/international/asia/15mongolia.html?ex=1266210000&en=0130a32542f0b181&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&pagewanted=all |access-date=22 June 2013}}</ref> In addition, Elbegdorj initiated the erection of the Genghis Khan memorial complex in front of Mongolia's [[Government Palace (Mongolia)|government house]] for the 800th Anniversary of the Great Mongol Empire.<ref>{{cite web|date=26 December 2005 |title=For the 800th anniversary of Great Mongol Empire&nbsp;... |publisher=Union of Mongolian Students in South Korea|url=http://www.cmox.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=478|access-date=8 July 2013}}</ref> Besides, Elbegdorj initiated a "Green Wall" environmental project to plant trees in barren areas and desert zones to prevent from massive sandstorms from Mongolia reaching to North America<ref name="Land" /> and to reduce air pollution.<ref>{{cite web|year=2009|title=Mongolian nature and environment legislative scorecard. Fall 2008 and Spring 2009 Parliamentary sessions|publisher=Mongolian Environmental Protection Civil Movements' Coalition |url=http://responsibleresourceuse.mn/files/pub/Green%20star_ENG_Fall%202008%20and%20Spring%202009.pdf |access-date=22 June 2013}}</ref>

In August 2005, Elbegdorj wanted to run in by-elections in Ulaanbaatar's [[Bayangol, Ulan Bator|Bayangol district]]. However, the MPRP threatened to leave the coalition if Elbegdorj ran against MPRP candidate [[Miyeegombyn Enkhbold]], and Elbegdorj withdrew.<ref>{{cite news|last=Bormann|first=Renate|title=Aktuelle Nachrichten aus der Mongolei|publisher=mongolei.de (in German)|place=Bonn|url=http://www.mongolei.de/news/2005aug1.htm|date=August 2005|access-date=22 June 2013}}</ref> On 13 January 2006, the MPRP left the coalition anyway, and Elbegdorj was forced to resign. The MPRP proceeded to form a new government with the help of DP defectors and independent MPs, and Miyeegombyn Enkhbold became the new prime minister. The events triggered protests from some civic groups and their followers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mongolia-web.com/content/view/363/2/|title=In Mongolia protest groups collide|publisher=Mongolia-web.com|date=12 April 2006
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070220093542/http://www.mongolia-web.com/content/view/363/2/|archive-date=20 February 2007}}</ref> Mongolian economy had real [[GDP]] growth of 10.4% in 2004, 7.3% in 2005 and 8.6% in 2006 respectively during Elbegdorj's second term as prime minister compared to 7% in 2003 prior to Elbegdorj's government.<ref>{{cite web|title=Mongolia Country Report|url=http://www.gfmag.com/gdp-data-country-reports/218-mongolia-gdp-country-report.html#axzz1tFHOdQQ4|publisher=Global Finance|access-date=30 June 2013}}</ref>

== 2009 presidential election ==
[[File:Mongolia President Elections 2009.png|thumb|Election preliminary results. Source: ''[[Montsame News Agency]]'']]

At the [[Democratic Party (Mongolia)|Democratic Party]]'s convention on 3 April 2009, Elbegdorj defeated [[Erdeniin Bat-Üül]] in a contest for the party's nomination for the presidency of Mongolia. Elbegdorj won with 65.3% of the total vote.<ref>{{cite news|title=Presidential election May, 2009|url=http://www.business-mongolia.com/mongolia/2009/04/04/presidential-election-may-2009|publisher=Business-Mongolia.com|date=4 April 2009|access-date=7 July 2013|archive-date=6 October 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111006040431/http://www.business-mongolia.com/mongolia/2009/04/04/presidential-election-may-2009/|url-status=usurped}}</ref> After Elbegdorj was announced as the candidate, the [[Civic Will Party]] and the [[Mongolian Green Party]] endorsed Elbegdorj's presidential candidacy.<ref>{{cite news|last=Schrapel|first=Thomas|title=Report on the Presidential elections in Mongolia on May 24, 2009|url=http://www.kas.de/wf/doc/kas_17148-544-2-30.pdf|magazine=Auslandsinformationen|place=Berlin|volume=5–6|year=2009|issn=0177-7521|pages=169–173|access-date=7 July 2013}}</ref>

Elbegdorj won the [[2009 Mongolian presidential election]] on 24 May 2009 with 51.21% of the votes. Defeating incumbent president [[Nambaryn Enkhbayar|Enkhbayar]] who got 47.41%,<ref>{{cite news|title=Mongolia Profile|work=BBC News |date=3 November 2011 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-15460528|access-date=31 July 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Enkhbayar, Roland-Holst, Sugiyarto |first=Shagdar, David and Guntur|url=http://are.berkeley.edu/~dwrh/Docs/WP_Mongolia_Resources100920.pdf|title=Mongolia's investment priorities from a national development perspective|publisher=berkeley.edu|date=September 2010|page=9|access-date=25 June 2013}}</ref> Elbegdorj was sworn into office as President of Mongolia on 18 June 2009.<ref name="Euronews">{{cite web|title=Mongolia's new president sworn in|url=http://www.euronews.com/2009/06/18/mongolia-s-new-president-sworn-in|publisher=euronews.com|date=18 June 2009|access-date=25 June 2013}}</ref>

== 2013 presidential election ==
[[File:Mongolia President Elections 2013.svg|thumb|Election result: Provinces and Ulaanbaatar districts won by Elbegdorj (blue), Bat-Erdene (red). Darker shades represent a majority (more than half), lighter shades represent pluralities.]]

The [[Democratic Party (Mongolia)|Democratic Party]]'s National Consultative Committee held its convention on 7 May 2013 and decided to re-nominate Elbegdorj as a presidential candidate with 100% votes.<ref>{{cite news|title=Democratic Party's National consultative committee's 42nd convention supports Elbegdorj's candidacy 100%|newspaper=Odriin sonin (Daily News) (in Mongolian)|url=http://www.dnn.mn/photo/?gallery=37736&vgt=20|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130629190954/http://www.dnn.mn/photo/?gallery=37736&vgt=20|url-status=dead|archive-date=29 June 2013|access-date=29 June 2013|date=7 May 2013}}</ref> And the Congress of Democratic Party, with 7,000 participants in Ulaanbaatar plus participants in all provincial centers connected via live internet video conference voted 100% for Elbegdorj's nomination from the [[Democratic Party (Mongolia)|Democratic Party]] for the 2013 presidential election on 8 May 2013.<ref>{{cite news |last=B.|first=Mandakh|title=Congress of Democratic Party taken place|publisher=news.mn (in Mongolian)|url= http://politics.news.mn/content/143452.shtml|access-date=29 June 2013|date=8 May 2013}}</ref> [[Civil Will-Green Party]] and Mongolian National Democratic Party – which have seats at both the parliament and the government cabinet – endorsed Elbegdorj's presidential candidacy.<ref>{{cite news|last=E|first=Dari|title=The unique features of the 6th Presidential Election of Mongolia|url=http://ubpost.mongolnews.mn/?p=4332|access-date=21 June 2013|newspaper=UB Post|location=Ulaanbaatar|date=27 May 2013}}</ref> The Republican Party and the Motherland Party expressed their full support for Elbegdorj's candidacy also.<ref>{{cite news|title=Motherland Party and Republican Party are to support Ts.Elbegdorj|publisher=vip76.mn (in Mongolian)|url=http://vip76.mn/content/17526?rfr=10|access-date=22 June 2013|date=29 May 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130624234521/http://vip76.mn/content/17526?rfr=10|archive-date=24 June 2013}}</ref>

Elbegdorj won the [[2013 Mongolian presidential election]] on 26 June 2013 with 50.23% of total votes while opposition [[Mongolian People's Party]]'s candidate [[Badmaanyambuugiin Bat-Erdene]] received 41.97%, and [[Natsagiin Udval]], candidate of [[Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party (2010)|Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party]] got 6.5% of total votes.<ref>{{cite news|last=D.|first=Tsetseg|title=It is announced that Ts.Elbegdorj won by preliminary result|publisher=shuud.mn (in Mongolian)|url=https://www.shuud.mn/?p=250019|access-date=27 June 2013|date=27 June 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130629004542/http://www.shuud.mn/?p=250019|archive-date=29 June 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Incumbent Mongolian president wins 2nd term on pro-Western, anti-graft platform|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/incumbent-mongolian-president-wins-2nd-term-on-pro-western-anti-graft-platform/2013/06/26/2bbce73e-deca-11e2-ad2e-fcd1bf42174d_story.html|newspaper=The Washington Post|place=Washington|access-date=29 June 2013|date=27 June 2013|archive-date=29 June 2013|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130629095510/http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/incumbent-mongolian-president-wins-2nd-term-on-pro-western-anti-graft-platform/2013/06/26/2bbce73e-deca-11e2-ad2e-fcd1bf42174d_story.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

=== Reaction to election result ===
U.S. President [[Barack Obama]] issued a statement on the presidential election in Mongolia on 27 June 2013, the same day the election result was announced.<ref>{{cite web|title=Obama on Presidential Election in Mongolia|url=http://iipdigital.usembassy.gov/st/english/texttrans/2013/06/20130628277812.html?CP.rss=true#ixzz2XldHaFdu|publisher=U.S. Department of State|date=27 June 2013|access-date=1 July 2013}}</ref> President Obama [http://iipdigital.usembassy.gov/st/english/texttrans/2013/06/20130628277812.html?CP.rss=true#ixzz2XWTIooGV stated]: "President Elbegdorj has been an important leader in advancing democracy and freedom in his country and a key partner for the United States in Asia and globally&nbsp;... Through its impressive democratic achievements and its progress on economic liberalization, Mongolia serves as a significant example of positive reform and transformation for peoples around the world."<ref>{{cite web|title=Statement by President on the Presidential Election in Mongolia|url=http://iipdigital.usembassy.gov/st/english/texttrans/2013/06/20130628277812.html?CP.rss=true#ixzz2XWTIooGV|publisher=U.S. Department of State|date=27 June 2013|access-date=1 July 2013}}</ref>
[[File:Elbegdorj and Ban Ki-moon.jpg|thumb|left|230px|UN Secretary General [[Ban Ki-moon]] and Elbegdorj meet at the UN Headquarters on 19 September 2011]]
[[Vuk Jeremić]], [[President of the United Nations General Assembly]] for the [[sixty-seventh session of the United Nations General Assembly|67th session]] expressed satisfaction with the fair and successful election in his congratulations<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.montsame.gov.mn/en/index.php/politics/item/1286-unga-president-congratulates-ts-elbegdorjto |title=UNGA President congratulates Ts.Elbegdorj |access-date=15 September 2018 |archive-date=15 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180915122314/http://www.montsame.gov.mn/en/index.php/politics/item/1286-unga-president-congratulates-ts-elbegdorjto |url-status=dead }}</ref> Elbegdorj on 27 June 2013.<ref>{{cite web|title=UNGA President congratulates Ts.Elbegdorj |url=http://www.montsame.gov.mn/en/index.php/politics/item/1286-unga-president-congratulates-ts-elbegdorj |publisher=Montsame News Agency|date=27 June 2013|access-date=1 July 2013}}</ref> UN Secretary General [[Ban Ki-moon]] congratulated for successful presidential election in Mongolia in his congratulatory message to Elbegdorj.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.infomongolia.com/ct/ci/6219| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130706183401/http://www.infomongolia.com/ct/ci/6219| archive-date = 6 July 2013| title = UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon congratulates the President of Mongolia Ts.Elbegdorj : InfoMongolia.com : News and information about Mongolia, Mongolian language lessons}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon congratulates the President of Mongolia Ts.Elbegdorj|url=http://www.infomongolia.com/ct/ci/6219|publisher=infomongolia.com|date=3 July 2013|access-date=6 July 2013}}</ref>

[[European Commission]] President [[José Manuel Barroso]] said "The European Commission considers that the presidential election has become another vital step of the Mongolian people to establish a democratic society that respects the rule of law and human rights" in his congratulatory note<ref>{{cite web| url = http://politics.news.mn/content/149635.shtml| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130630003202/http://politics.news.mn/content/149635.shtml| archive-date = 30 June 2013| title = Хосе Мануэл Барросо мэндчилгээ ирүүлэв}}</ref> to Elbegdorj on 28 June 2013.<ref>{{cite web|title=José Manuel Barroso sends greetings|url=http://politics.news.mn/content/149635.shtml|publisher=news.mn (in Mongolian)|date=28 June 2013|access-date=1 July 2013|archive-date=30 June 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130630003202/http://politics.news.mn/content/149635.shtml|url-status=dead}}</ref> German Chancellor [[Angela Merkel]] pointed out "The [[Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe]] sent its group to Mongolia for the first time to observe the presidential election, and it was an expression of strengthening democracy and transparency in Mongolia," in her congratulations to Elbegdorj.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.montsame.gov.mn/en/index.php/politics/item/1360-german-chancellor-congratulates-elbegdorj| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160305033705/http://montsame.gov.mn/en/index.php/politics/item/1360-german-chancellor-congratulates-elbegdorj| archive-date = 5 March 2016| title = German Chancellor congratulates Elbegdorj}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=B.|first=Khuder|title=German Chancellor congratulates Elbegdorj|url=http://www.montsame.gov.mn/en/index.php/politics/item/1360-german-chancellor-congratulates-elbegdorj|publisher=Montsame News Agency|date=4 July 2013|access-date=6 July 2013|archive-date=5 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305033705/http://montsame.gov.mn/en/index.php/politics/item/1360-german-chancellor-congratulates-elbegdorj|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Elbegdorj is also the third Mongolian president to be reelected.

== Presidency ==
Elbegdorj won the Mongolian presidential elections twice: on [[2009 Mongolian presidential election|24 May 2009]] and [[2013 Mongolian presidential election|26 June 2013]]. Elbegdorj was sworn into office on 18 June 2009 for his first term,<ref name="Euronews" /> and on 10 July 2013 for his second term as President of Mongolia.<ref name="2nd inauguration 1" /> Elbegdorj is Mongolia's first president to never have been a member of the former communist [[Mongolian People's Party|Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party]] and the first to obtain a Western education.<ref>{{cite web|title=Tsakhiagiyn Elbegdorj|url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/mongolia/tsakhiagiyn-elbegdorj.htm|publisher=globalsecurity.org|access-date=22 June 2013}}</ref>
[[File:Barack Obama welcomes Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj to the Oval Office.jpg|thumb|right|300px|President Elbegdorj meeting with U.S. President [[Barack Obama]] in June 2011]]

=== Inauguration ===
Elbegdorj was sworn into office for his first term as President of Mongolia in [[Government Palace (Mongolia)|State House]] in front of the Parliament and guests on 18 June 2009. His inauguration ceremony included his address to the nation<ref name="president.mn">{{cite web| url = http://president.mn/eng/newsCenter/viewNews.php?newsId=11| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120313170848/http://www.president.mn/eng/newsCenter/viewNews.php?newsId=11| archive-date = 13 March 2012| title = PRESIDENT.MN}}</ref> and a military parade on [[Sükhbaatar Square]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Mongolia's new president fights corruption|url=http://article.wn.com/view/2013/06/27/Tsakhia_Elbegdorj_reelu_president_de_Mongolie/#/video|publisher=NDTV|date=19 June 2009|access-date=28 July 2013}}</ref> The United States Senate passed Resolution Number 192<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/111th-congress/senate-resolution/192|title=S.Res.192 - 111th Congress (2009-2010): A resolution expressing the sense of the Senate regarding supporting democracy and economic development in Mongolia and expanding relations between the United States and Mongolia.|first=Kerry|last=John|date=18 June 2009|website=www.congress.gov}}</ref> supporting Mongolia's democracy and economic development and noting Elbegdorj's election victory on the day he was sworn in on 18 June 2009.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/111th-congress/senate-resolution/192|title=S.RES.192 – Expressing the sense of the Senate regarding supporting democracy and economic development in Mongolia and expanding relations between the United States and Mongolia|last=Kerry|first=John|date=18 June 2009|website=Congress.gov|publisher=The Library of Congress|access-date=19 April 2017}}</ref>

For his second term as President of Mongolia, Elbegdorj was sworn into office in front of the Chinggis Khaan (also referred as [[Genghis Khan]]) monument,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.allvoices.com/people/genghis_khan/image/99472430-mongolia-s-president-elbegdorj-takes-oath-at-his-inauguration-after-being-re-elected-in|title=Mongolia's President Elbegdorj takes oath at his inauguration after being re-elected, in front of the statue of Genghis Khan in Ulan Bator|publisher=allvoices.com|date=10 July 2013|access-date=28 July 2013}}</ref> Nine White Banners of Mongolia, the Parliament and public on [[Sükhbaatar Square]] on 10 July 2013. This is the first time a Mongolian president made an oath in front of public in the country's history.<ref name="2nd inauguration 1">{{cite news|url=http://www.montsame.gov.mn/en/index.php/politics/item/1427-ts-elbegdorj-takes-oath|author=Khuder|title=Ts.Elbegdorj takes oath|publisher=Montsame News Agency|date=10 July 2013|access-date=10 July 2013|archive-date=15 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180915122330/http://www.montsame.gov.mn/en/index.php/politics/item/1427-ts-elbegdorj-takes-oath|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="2nd inauguration 2">{{cite news|url=http://politics.news.mn/content/150782.shtml|last=B.|first=Enkhmaa|title=Ceremonial Parliamentary session concluded|publisher=news.mn (in Mongolian)|date=10 July 2013|access-date=10 July 2013}}</ref><ref name="2nd inauguration 3">{{cite web|url=https://www.shuud.mn/?p=252264|title=President to be sworn in on 10th in front of Genghis Khan monument|publisher=shuud.mn (in Mongolian)|date=3 July 2013|access-date=6 July 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130705082636/http://www.shuud.mn/?p=252264|archive-date=5 July 2013}}</ref> After making an oath, he addressed to the nation,<ref>{{cite web| url = http://president.mn/eng/newsCenter/viewNews.php?newsId=926| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130724025411/http://www.president.mn/eng/newsCenter/viewNews.php?newsId=926| archive-date = 24 July 2013| title = PRESIDENT.MN}}</ref> and a military parade followed.<ref name="2nd inauguration 1" /> [[Nobel Peace Laureate]], co-founder of the [[Eastern bloc|Soviet bloc's]] first independent trade union Solidarity, former Polish President [[Lech Wałęsa]] attended Elbegdorj's second inauguration as president.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.montsame.gov.mn/en/index.php/politics/item/1448-president-receives-lech-walesa|last=B.|first=Khuder|title=President receives Lech Walesa|publisher=MONTSAME News Agency|date=13 July 2013|access-date=28 July 2013}}</ref>

=== Democracy and human rights ===
==== Presidency of the Community of Democracies ====
Elbegdorj served as a chair of the [[Community of Democracies]] from 2011 to 2013, an intergovernmental coalition of democratic countries of which Mongolia is a participating member.<ref>{{cite web|title=2012 Laureate: Policy Leadership: President Tsakhia Elbegdorj, Mongolia|url=http://www.unep.org/champions/laureates/2012/Elbegdorj.asp
|publisher=The United Nations Environmental Programme|access-date=25 June 2013|date=4 June 2012}}</ref> Under his presidency, Mongolia successfully organized the VII Ministerial Conference of the Community of Democracies<ref>{{cite web|last=Burns|first=William J.|title=Deputy Secretary of State William J. Burns:Remarks at the Community of Democracies Ministerial|url=http://www.humanrights.gov/2013/04/29/remarks-at-the-community-of-democracinatues-ministerial/
|website=Humanrights.gov|access-date=25 June 2013|date=29 April 2013}}</ref> with democracy icon guest speakers namely chairperson of the National League for Democracy in Burma and [[Nobel Peace Laureate]] [[Aung San Suu Kyi]], "Mother of the Revolution" of [[Yemeni Revolution|2011 Yemeni uprising]] and Nobel Peace Laureate [[Tawakkol Karman]], Elbegdorj, Thailand's Prime Minister [[Yingluck Shinawatra]] and others, on 27–29 April 2013. The conference had over 1300 participants from more than 100 countries<ref>{{cite web|title=VII Ministerial Conference of the Community of Democracies|publisher=Community of Democracies Mongolia|url=http://cdmongolia.mn|access-date=20 June 2013|date=April 2013}}</ref> and issued Ulaanbaatar Declaration "Community's Attainments and Global Challenges."<ref>{{cite web|title=Ulaanbaatar Declaration "Community's Attainments and Global Challenges"|publisher=Community of Democracies Mongolia|url=http://cdmongolia.mn/ulaanbaatar-declaration|access-date=25 July 2013|date=29 April 2013}}</ref>

Within the coalition, Elbegdorj led initiatives such as ''Zero Tolerance of Corruption'' and ''Education for Democracy'' and spoke on behalf of the initiatives at the 66th session of the General Assembly of the [[United Nations]] on 21 September 2011.<ref>{{cite web|title=General Debate of the 66th Session: Mongolia H.E. President Elbegdorj Tsakhia's Statement|publisher=General Assembly of the United Nations|url=https://gadebate.un.org/66/mongolia|access-date=25 July 2013|date=21 September 2011}}</ref> He worked with the coalition members to form an agenda to consolidate civil society and strengthen democracy.<ref name="GC of CD">{{cite web|title=President Elbegdorj chairs GC of Community of Democracies|publisher=Embassy of Mongolia|url=http://www.embassymon.at/news/news_401.html|access-date=22 June 2013|date=22 September 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=History and Mission|publisher=The Community of Democracies|url=http://community-democracies.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1&Itemid=23|website=Community-democracies.org|access-date=31 July 2012}}</ref>

==== Advocating democracy and human rights ====
Elbegdorj is a frequent lecturer on democracy and human rights, both domestically and abroad. Elbegdorj said in his speech<ref name="speech">{{Cite web|url=http://www.president.mn/eng/newsCenter/viewEvent.php?cid=31&newsEvent=The%20state%20visit%20of%20the%20President%20of%20Mongolia%20Ts.Elbegdorj%20to%20the%20Democratic%20People%E2%80%99s%20Republic%20of%20Korea|title=Lecture by President Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj at Kim Il Sun University, North Korea|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140805045729/http://www.president.mn/eng/newsCenter/viewEvent.php?cid=31&newsEvent=The%20state%20visit%20of%20the%20President%20of%20Mongolia%20Ts.Elbegdorj%20to%20the%20Democratic%20People%E2%80%99s%20Republic%20of%20Korea |date=30 October 2013|archive-date=5 August 2014}}</ref>  "It is a human desire to live free that is an eternal power" at Kim Il Sung University in North Korea.<ref>{{cite web|title = North Korea lecture at Kim Il Sung University by President of Mongolia Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj|website = [[YouTube]]| date=2 November 2013 |url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EgTMtgIg5Ic}}</ref> Elbegdorj remarked "I truly believe in freedom for each and every individual" at the [[Bundestag]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Die Mongolen vergessen die Hilfe anderer nicht|url=http://www.bundestag.de/dokumente/textarchiv/2012/38423280_kw13_mongolei/|publisher=Deutscher Bundestag|date=30 March 2012|access-date=5 January 2014}}</ref> One of his latest public speeches is "Myanmar and Mongolia: On the Road to Freedom and Democracy" made jointly with Nobel Peace Laureate [[Aung San Suu Kyi]] in [[Ulaanbaatar]] on 30 April 2013.<ref>{{cite web|last=Norovsambuu & Munkhbat|first=Ariunaa & Naran|title=Daw Aung San Suu Kyi Speaks with Mongolian Youth|magazine=In Asia|url=http://asiafoundation.org/in-asia/2013/05/08/daw-aung-san-suu-kyi-speaks-with-mongolian-youth|date=8 May 2013|access-date=29 June 2013}}</ref> Aung San Suu Kyi publicly expressed her appreciation in person to Elbegdorj for having been a strong voice in Asia for her release from house arrest in [[Myanmar]] (Burma) until her release.<ref name="Suu Kyi">{{cite web|title=Transcripts of the Speech by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi at a public lecture held jointly with President Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj in Ulaanbaatar, 30 April 2013|publisher=president.mn|url=http://www.president.mn/eng/newsCenter/viewNews.php?newsId=911|access-date=21 June 2013|date=30 April 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140106033117/http://www.president.mn/eng/newsCenter/viewNews.php?newsId=911|archive-date=6 January 2014}}</ref>  At the ASEM8 Summit on 3 October 2010, Elbegdorj openly called on Myanmar's authorities to free Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi from house arrest, and not long after she was released. In June 2016 President Elbegdorj visited the newly elected State Counsellor and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Aung San Suu Kyi "in honor of the 60th anniversary of the diplomatic ties between Mongolia and Myanmar".<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://en.montsame.mn/politics/tselbegdorj-meets-aung-san-suu-kyi|title=Ts.Elbegdorj meets Aung San Suu Kyi|website=en.montsame.mn|access-date=5 July 2016}}</ref> During the same visit he addressed a full house audience of civil servants sharing the values of democratic societies, urging them to fight against corruption.<ref>{{Citation|last=Elbegdorj Tsakhia|title=President Ts.Elbegdorj gave a lecture in International Meeting Hall of Myanmar|date=17 June 2016|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBfPNcweCUg|access-date=26 April 2023|website=[[YouTube]]}}</ref>
In 2012, following his talks at the Parliament of [[Kyrgyzstan]] and meeting with Kyrgyz NGO leaders and students to share Mongolia's experience towards democracy for two decades, Elbegdorj began the establishment of the Democratic Transition Assistance Foundation of Mongolia. The new initiative calls for the allocation of certain funds from the Mongolian budget to be used to support democratic transitions in Kyrgyzstan and Afghanistan along with economic reforms in countries such as North Korea and Myanmar while using Mongolia's democratic reform and consolidation as a model. In the summer of 2012, the foundation hosted several delegations from Kyrgyzstan, North Korea and Myanmar to study Mongolia's experience of judicial reform and mineral legislation.<ref>{{cite web|title=President Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj|url=http://www.president.mn/eng/president/biography.php|publisher=president.mn|access-date=21 June 2013|archive-date=5 August 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140805052247/http://www.president.mn/eng/president/biography.php|url-status=dead}}</ref>

To encourage the adoption of democratic governance in Asian countries, Elbegdorj, along with Korean President [[Lee Myung Bak]], started the Asian Partnership for Democracy initiative in 2011 as an arm of the Community of Democracies with a particular focus on the region in which Mongolia is one of the longest standing democracies.<ref>{{cite news|title=Mongolia for the Partnership for Democracy|url=http://www.infomongolia.com/ct/ci/3293|access-date=22 June 2013|publisher=infomongolia.com|date=15 February 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924034827/http://www.infomongolia.com/ct/ci/3293|archive-date=24 September 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Elbegdorj condemned the violence in Syria and called on world leaders to unify to end the bloodshed. He criticized the attack on the US Embassy in Libya<ref>{{cite web|title=General Assembly of the United Nations. General Debate of the 67th Session. Mongolia.H.E. Mr. Elbegdorj Tsakhia, President. Statement summary|publisher=United Nations|url=https://gadebate.un.org/67/mongolia|access-date=1 August 2013|date=27 September 2012}}</ref> by saying "The mission of diplomacy is peaceful. Attacking diplomatic compounds are violation of both the letter and spirit of international law," in his address <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.president.mn/eng/newsCenter/viewNews.php?newsId=814|url-status=dead|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121002224249/http://www.president.mn/eng/newsCenter/viewNews.php?newsId=814|date=27 September 2012|archive-date=2 October 2012|last=Tsakhia|first=Elbegdorj|title =Empower the People, Not the Government; Build Opportunities, Not Statues|publisher=Office of the President of Mongolia}}</ref> to the 67th session of the United Nations General Assembly on 27 September 2012. The U.S. Foreign Policy Association and the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) awarded Elbegdorj with the New York Democracy Forum's Presidential Medal on 22 September 2011. The award recognized "the vital role Elbegdorj played in Mongolia's historic democratic revolution in 1989, the country's successful democratic transition, the consolidation of its new democratic institutions and his solidarity with other democrats in Asia, the Middle East and other regions."<ref>{{cite web|last=Gershman|first=Carl|title=New York Democracy Forum Dinner:Carl Gershman, September 22, 2011|publisher=Foreign Policy Association|url=http://www.fpa.org/ckfinder/userfiles/files/283695_NY_Democracy_Gershman.pdf|access-date=22 June 2013|date=22 September 2011}}</ref>

In 2000 Elbegdorj founded Mongolia's Liberty Center, a non-governmental organization advocating human rights, freedom of expression and education. Elbegdorj spoke at many democracy conferences including "Re-founding America" conference sponsored by the International Society for Individual Liberty in Williamsburg, Virginia, United States in 2007 prior to his presidency.<ref>{{cite web|title=From slavery to freedom in the land of Genghis Khan|publisher=International Society for Individual Liberty|url=http://www.isil.org/resources/fnn/2007sept/williamsburg-conf.html#elbegdorj|date=September 2007|access-date=31 July 2012}}</ref>

==== Direct democracy and civic participation ====
In 2008, Elbegdorj opened the Citizens' Hall – a public hearing forum which encourages the participation of Mongolian citizens in the parliament's decision-making. In each proceeding, citizens are given time to speak and express their opinions on pending legislation. The hall is open to any of Mongolia's 2.9 million people and is located in [[Ulaanbaatar]]; some additional halls have been opened in other provinces. They are designed to encourage civil participation to have a consensus between legislators and citizens before any open issue becomes law.<ref>{{cite web|last=Harding|first=Andrew|title=Citizen's Hall Mongolia|url=http://participedia.net/en/cases/citizens-hall-mongolia|publisher=participedia.net|access-date=9 July 2013|date=6 September 2011}}</ref>

Elbegdorj emphasized "Democracy is about empowering the people and not bestowing power to someone," "The time has come to transfer to the discretion of the people, to the business and professional communities especially in the countryside the power to make decisions for themselves and to engage in businesses and services they are naturally entitled to," "The progress and prosperity of a civil society is defined not by centralization of power, but with transfer of rights, effective exercise of the rights by people," in his inaugural address for his first term as president.

Elbegdorj created a concept for decentralization: increasing local powers with civic participation, creating local development funds, and giving financial support to local authorities from central government budget. He submitted the concept to the Parliament to make it a part of the new Organic Budget Law and the law was passed with the part.<ref name="budget sonin">{{cite web|title=President's approved policy document to decentralize through direct democracy and civic participation and measure to implement it supported|publisher=sonin.mn (in Mongolian)|url=http://www.sonin.mn/news/politics-economy/7317|access-date=25 July 2013|date=20 September 2012}}</ref> When the bill was under discussion, the Presidential Office in collaboration with the Budget Standing Committee of the Parliament organized "Empowering Local Administration with Civic Participation" forum<ref>{{cite web|first=Oyun|last=D.|title=Local power to be increased|publisher=news.mn (in Mongolian)|url=http://local.news.mn/content/68570.shtml|access-date=25 July 2013|date=27 May 2011}}</ref> with guest speakers from Direct Democracy Center in Switzerland<ref>{{cite web|title=It is possible to increase local administration power with civic participation|publisher=president.mn (in Mongolian)|url=http://www.president.mn/mongolian/node/1787|access-date=25 July 2013|date=27 May 2011}}</ref> at Elbegdorj's invitation on 27 May 2011.<ref>{{cite web|title=Swiss scholar addresses students |publisher=news.mn|url=http://english.news.mn/content/69125.shtml|access-date=25 July 2013|date=31 May 2011}}</ref> The centre's director also lectured on "Local level structure of direct democracy in Switzerland" to Mongolian students.<ref>{{cite web|title=Lecture about democracy in Switzerland was given|publisher=infomongolia.mn|url=http://www.infomongolia.com/ct/ci/834/Lecture%20about%20Democracy%20in%20Switzerland%20was%20given|access-date=25 July 2013|date=30 May 2011}}</ref> Then Elbegdorj's office developed a policy document reflecting suggestions of citizens discussed in the Citizens' Hall and Elbegdorj issued a decree to approve "Medium and long term national policy document on decentralization through direct democracy and civic participation."<ref name="budget sonin" /><ref>{{cite book|title=Direct democracy-civic participation policy document's pamphlet|place=Ulaanbaatar|publisher=cityhall.gov.mn (in Mongolian)|url=http://dd.cityhall.gov.mn/2013/04/blog-post_17.html|edition=2|access-date=25 July 2013|date=25 February 2012}}</ref>

Then, from 8 September 2012<ref>{{cite web|title=Mongolia is keen to learn from Swiss experience with direct democracy|publisher=Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation|url=http://www.swiss-cooperation.admin.ch/mongolia/en/Home/News/News_Detail?itemID=214830|access-date=25 July 2013|date=10 September 2012}}</ref> through April 2013, his office jointly with local governments and parliaments organized nationwide training "Direct democracy – Budget management with civic participation"<ref>{{cite web|last=D.|first=Tsetseg|title=Swiss scholar addresses students|publisher=news.mn (in Mongolian)|url=http://local.news.mn/content/125061.shtml|access-date=25 July 2013|date=8 November 2012}}</ref> for ordinary citizens, civil servants and local authorities about how citizens can participate in local government budget spending from local development funds to decide life in their localities.<ref>{{cite web|last=N.|first=Sanjaasuren|title=Local development fund to be established in every soums|publisher=news.mn(in Mongolian)|url=http://local.news.mn/content/125163.shtml|access-date=25 July 2013|date=9 November 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Direct democracy-civic participation training begins from Tuv province|publisher=olloo.mn (in Mongolian)|url=http://www.olloo.mn/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1214566|access-date=25 July 2013|date=2 November 2012}}</ref> Elbegdorj said "citizen participation and monitoring are still missing in the public decision making. There cannot be a civil society without citizen participation," in his remarks at the [[National Diet]] of Japan in 2010.<ref>{{cite web|title=Address to the People of Japan by H.E. Tsakhia Elbegdorj, President of Mongolia delivered at the National Diet of Japan|publisher=president.mn|url=http://www.president.mn/eng/newsCenter/viewNews.php?newsId=434|access-date=5 January 2014|date=18 November 2010|archive-date=26 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160526090716/http://president.mn/eng/newsCenter/viewNews.php?newsId=434|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==== Women's rights ====
Elbegdorj has long been an advocate for women's rights and more proportional representation of women in the decision-making level of governments. He stressed the importance of women in leadership, highlighting the three-fold increase of women representatives elected in the 2012 Mongolian parliamentary elections in his speech at the [[UN General Assembly]] in September 2012. "We need more women leaders. Women tend to see the whole picture. For society to advance, we need more women in public service at all levels – local to global. They bring a unique perspective often missing in global challenges," Elbegdorj said "Have you ever heard of a woman bloody dictator or tyrant? I think not. If there were more women in power, I think we would have more harmony, more engagement and less suffering and less conflict."<ref name="Empower Women" />

On 9 July 2011 during the meeting with Elbegdorj in Ulaanbaatar, U.S. Secretary of State [[Hillary Clinton]] praised Mongolia's recent parliamentary elections in which nine women were elected and applauded Mongolia for its "courage" in building a democratic system in a country surrounded by Russia and China.<ref>{{cite news|last=Perlez|first=Jane|title=From Mongolia, Clinton Takes a Jab at China|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/10/world/asia/in-mongolia-clinton-offers-message-to-china.html?_r=2&hp&|access-date=3 October 2012|newspaper=The New York Times|place=New York|date=9 July 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Areddy|first=James T.|title=Clinton Praises Mongolian System|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702303343404577516452804920704|access-date=3 October 2012|newspaper=The Wall Street Journal|place=New York|date=9 July 2012}}</ref> "Mongolia encourages women’s involvement in the political system with the intention of improving their role in society" Elbegdorj said in his lecture at the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam in November 2013.<ref>{{cite web|title=Mongolian President meets Vietnamese students|url=http://english.vov.vn/Politics/Diplomacy/Mongolian-President-meets-Vietnamese-students/268443.vov|access-date=5 January 2014|publisher=The Voice of Vietnam|date=22 November 2013}}</ref> In the 2013 Mongolian presidential election, Natsagiin Udval, Mongolia's first female presidential contender ran against Elbegdorj.<ref>{{cite web|title=Mongolia President Tsakhia Elbegdorj 'wins second term'|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-23063822|access-date=9 July 2013|publisher=BBC|date=27 June 2013}}</ref> Elbegdorj said "Public policies on social welfare or protection should reflect kindness and tenderness of mothers," in his public lecture at Yangon University in Yangon, Myanmar.<ref>{{cite news|author=Sugirragchaa|title=Mongolian leader gives lecture at Yangon University|url=http://www.montsame.gov.mn/en/index.php/politics/item/2897-the-president-of-mongolia-gives-lecture-at-yangon-university/2897-the-president-of-mongolia-gives-lecture-at-yangon-university?start=3|access-date=5 January 2014|publisher=MONSTAME News Agency|date=21 November 2013|archive-date=24 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160224104437/http://www.montsame.gov.mn/en/index.php/politics/item/2897-the-president-of-mongolia-gives-lecture-at-yangon-university/2897-the-president-of-mongolia-gives-lecture-at-yangon-university?start=3|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==== Abolition of capital punishment ====
On 14 January 2010, Elbegdorj announced that he would, henceforth, systematically use his prerogative to pardon all persons [[sentenced to death]]. He stated that [[Use of capital punishment by nation|most countries in the world had abolished the death penalty]], and Mongolia should follow their example. He suggested that capital punishment would be commuted to a thirty-year prison sentence. The decision was controversial; when Elbegdorj announced it in [[State Great Khural|Parliament]], [[Mongolian People's Party|MPRP]] representatives did not give the applause customarily due after a presidential speech.<ref>{{cite news|title=Le président mongol veut abolir la peine de mort|newspaper=Le Monde (in French)|place=Paris|url=http://www.lemonde.fr/asie-pacifique/article/2010/01/14/le-president-mongol-veut-abolir-la-peine-de-mort_1291441_3216.html|date=14 January 2009|access-date=29 June 2013}}</ref> (See: [[Capital punishment in Mongolia]])

Elbegdorj stated "Capital punishment is wrong–it degrades human dignity. It brings no peace to society. It does not deter crime and does not lift up mankind,"<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.unrol.org/files/Statement%20by%20Mongolia.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121007122155/http://www.unrol.org/files/Statement%20by%20Mongolia.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=2012-10-07|title=Statement by H.E. Mr. Tsakhia Elbegdorj, President of Mongolia at the United Nations General Assembly High-Level Meeting of the Rule of Law at the national and international levels|place=New York|date=24 September 2012|access-date=26 April 2023}}</ref> at the High-Level Meeting on the Rule of Law of the 67th session of the United Nations General Assembly on 24 September 2012. "By ratifying the Second Optional Protocol Mongolia would add yet one more country in the world community to fully abolish the death penalty. Pardoning a life does not mean pardoning a penalty. The punishment for serious and cruel felonies must be severe and must be just. However, I do not think it is just to deprive any citizens of life in the name of the state. The right to life is one of the fundamental rights of a human being and cannot depend on anyone, not even on the head of state. The state should respect very fundamental human rights, and secure them by law," Elbegdorj pointed out in his greeting<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.president.mn/eng/newsCenter/viewNews.php?newsId=249|url-status=dead|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120313170723/http://www.president.mn/eng/newsCenter/viewNews.php?newsId=249|archive-date=13 March 2012|title=Greetings of the President of Mongolia Tsakhia to the Delegates of the 5th International Meeting of Ministers of Justice "From Moratorium to Abolition of the Capital Punishment-No Justice without Life"|date=18 May 2010}}</ref> to the delegation of the 5th international meeting of Justice Ministers on 18 May 2010.<ref>{{cite web|last=Tsakhia|first=Elbegdorj|title=Greetings of the President of Mongolia Tsakhia to the delegates of the 5th international meeting of Ministers of Justice "From moratorium to abolition of the capital punishment-No justice without life"|publisher=Office of the President of Mongolia|url=http://www.president.mn/eng/newsCenter/viewNews.php?newsId=249|access-date=21 June 2013|date=18 May 2010|archive-date=21 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160821052515/http://www.president.mn/eng/newsCenter/viewNews.php?newsId=249|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Four months after Elbegdorj's announcement of a moratorium on the death penalty by his pardon, a survey was conducted among Mongolian legal academics asking whether it is right or wrong to abolish the death penalty in Mongolia. 83% of the survey participants responded that it was wrong. They criticized "By pardoning death row inmates, the Mongolian President directly interferes in criminal procedures. Nobody has the right to change court rulings."<ref>{{cite news|last=Ts.|first=Khankhukhii|title=Death penalty that caused wrangle|publisher=undesten.mn|url=http://undesten.mn/s/8135|access-date=7 July 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140106033105/http://undesten.mn/s/8135|archive-date=6 January 2014}}</ref> According to Article 33.1.8 of the Constitution, the Mongolian president has the prerogative "to grant pardon."<ref>{{cite web|title=Constitution of Mongolia. Article 33.1.8|publisher=parliament.mn|url=http://www.parliament.mn/en/law/categories/2541/pages/4428|access-date=9 July 2013|date=13 January 1992|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131107070608/http://www.parliament.mn/en/law/categories/2541/pages/4428|archive-date=7 November 2013}}</ref> Some academics and critics considered that it is too early and wrong to abolish death penalty in Mongolia,<ref>{{cite news|last=Slowe|first=Rosie|title=The Fate Of The Death Penalty|newspaper=UB Post|place=Ulaanbaatar|url=http://ubpost.mongolnews.mn/?p=634|access-date=7 July 2013|date=20 August 2012}}</ref> explaining that murder crimes are becoming too brutal and severe since the death penalty would not be implemented.<ref>{{cite web|last=Bat-Ochir|first=Bumbaa|title=Is it right or wrong to abolish death penalty? Why?|publisher=biznetwork.mn (blog in Mongolian)|url=http://biznetwork.mn/topic/show/26758|access-date=7 July 2013|date=28 February 2011}}</ref>

Despite much criticism from domestic conservative politicians, the opposition, and critics, Elbegdorj's decision was positively received internationally. [[Amnesty International]] noted "President Elbegdorj's actions demonstrate commitment to the protection of human rights and set a good example for other Asian countries in the region," on 18 February 2010.<ref>{{cite web|title=Abolish the death penalty in Mongolia|publisher=Amnesty International|url=https://www.amnesty.org/en/appeals-for-action/abolish-death-penalty-mongolia|date=18 February 2010|access-date=10 July 2013}}</ref> International organization "Hands off Cain" awarded Elbegdorj with "Abolitionist of the Year 2011" noting Mongolia as an example that fosters the right to life among Asian countries.<ref>{{cite news|title='Abolitionist of the Year 2011' awarded to Mongolian President Elbegdorj|publisher=Hands off Cain|url=http://www.handsoffcain.info/news/index.php?iddocumento=15312549|date=17 October 2011|access-date=29 June 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140106034351/http://www.handsoffcain.info/news/index.php?iddocumento=15312549|archive-date=6 January 2014}}</ref>

Finally, in 2012, the Mongolian parliament amended a law to join the [[Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights]], making Mongolia a state party to the convention and reinforcing the country's commitment to the abolition of capital punishment.<ref>{{cite web|title=Mongolia takes 'vital step forward' in abolishing the death penalty|publisher=Amnesty International|url=https://www.amnesty.org/en/news/mongolia-takes-vital-step-forward-abolishing-death-penalty-2012-01-05|access-date=8 August 2012|date=5 January 2012}}</ref>

For the 6th World Congress Against the Death Penalty<ref>{{cite web|url=http://congres.abolition.fr/en/|title=6th World Congress Against the Death Penalty|website=6th World Congress Against the Death Penalty}}</ref> in June 2016, President Elbegdorj sent a video message in which he stands up against capital punishment and shares his views and taken actions to fully abolish death penalty in Mongolia.<ref>{{Citation|last=Elbegdorj Tsakhia|title=Greetings to the 6th World Congress against the death penalty by the President of Mongolia|date=26 June 2016|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fYbKs9dRSso|access-date=5 July 2016}}</ref> He did share the same views during his visit to Strasbourg in 2015 addressing the European Parliament.<ref>{{Citation|last=Tsakhia|first=Elbegdorj|title=Speech of Elbegdorj Tsakhia, President of Mongolia at the European Parliament|date=14 June 2015|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6vOPc28XdY|access-date=5 July 2016}}</ref>

=== Foreign policy ===

==== Mongolia hosts 11th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) Summit ====
[[File:ASEM 11.jpg|thumb|left|720px|Asia Europe Meeting 11 in Ulaanbaatar on 15–16 July 2016]] Under the leadership of Elbegdorj, Mongolia hosted the 11th Asia-Europe Summit (ASEM 11) in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia on 15 and 16 July 2016 for the first time. Leaders, heads of state, prime ministers and delegates from 51 countries, the European Commission and ASEAN participated in the summit under theme "20 Years of ASEM: Partnership for the Future through Connectivity."<ref>{{cite web|title=Mongolia hosts 11th Asia-Europe Summit |url=https://cdn.aseminfoboard.org/documents/Press-Release-July-14-2016_kwGeydD.pdf|access-date=29 January 2023|work=ASEM|date=14 July 2016}}</ref>

About foreign policy, "Mongolia shall remain an active member of the international community and shall actively cooperate in addressing regional and global challenges," Elbegdorj emphasized in his inaugural address for his first term as President of Mongolia on 18 June 2009. Moreover, he noted that Mongolia shall foster and expand cooperation with the country's two neighbours and "third neighbours," in the same address. "Mongolia shall consistently continue her traditional foreign policies enriched with new content and dimensions," he stated in the same speech.

To strengthen the relations with the countries of the European Union President Elbegdorj addressed the European Parliament in Strasbourg, in June 2015.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Mongolian President Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj visits European Parliament|url = http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/news-room/content/20150605STO63234/html/Mongolian-President-Tsakhiagiin-Elbegdorj-visits-European-Parliament|website = European Parliament|date=9 June 2015|access-date=26 April 2023}}</ref> In his speech, Elbegdorj defines Mongolia as a strategic anchor for the EU in the East: "The EU is the world’s premier invention for advancing global prosperity, peace and harmony. Mongolia will be a strategic anchor for the EU in the East, helping advance our shared values and interests, and for building peace, democracy and engagement in Asia."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.president.mn/eng/newsCenter/viewNews.php?newsId=1568|url-status = dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924081423/http://www.president.mn/eng/newsCenter/viewNews.php?newsId=1568|date=9 June 2015|archive-date=24 September 2015|title=Address by H.E. Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj, President of Mongolia to the European Parliament}}</ref> In a documentary film titled "Mongolia – Democratic Anchor of the East"<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNKaqEcMw2c|title=Mongolia - The Democratic Anchor of the East|last=Mongolia Documentary|date=29 July 2015|via=YouTube}}</ref> Elbegdorj was interviewed about the third-neighbour policy and foreign affairs.

Elbegdorj reiterated "Mongolia shall continue her open and pro-active engagement and cooperation at the regional and international fora," "Mongolia shall continue her constructive cooperation with other countries and international organizations. We shall work to promote mutually beneficial and constructive decisions in bilateral relations with our neighbours in infrastructure, investment, trade, transit transport and other pending issues," in his inaugural address for his second term as president on 10 July 2013.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.infomongolia.com/ct/ci/6262|url-status=dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130715093747/http://www.infomongolia.com/ct/ci/6262| archive-date = 15 July 2013| title = Inaugural Address by Ts.Elbegdorj, President of Mongolia, at the Ceremony of Presidential Swearing Into Office|publisher=InfoMongolia.com}}</ref> Elbegdorj praised the choice of the Kyrgyz people for parliamentary governance and their resolute struggle for freedom and justice in his speech at the Kyrgyz Parliament in April 2012.<ref>{{cite web|title=Mongolia Supports Kyrgyz Democratic Transformations|publisher=Community of Democracies|url=http://www.community-democracies.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=347:mongolia-supports-kyrgyz-democratic-transformations&catid=6:news-and-media&Itemid=51|date=11 April 2012|access-date=5 January 2014}}</ref> Following traditional friendly relations with North Korea, Elbegdorj has a good relationship with North Korea. 50,000 North Korean football fans cheered Elbegdorj in a stadium for his football kick during his official visit to North Korea in October 2013.<ref>{{cite web|title=North Korea:50,000 Football fans cheer Mongolian President Tsakhia Elbegdorj|publisher=World News|url=http://wn.com/president_of_mongolia|date=2 November 2013|access-date=5 January 2014}}</ref> Elbegdorj gave a lecture titled "It is the human desire to live free that is an eternal power," as the first foreign Head of State to read a lecture on this topic at the Kim Il Sung University.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EgTMtgIg5Ic|title=Lecture by the President of Mongolia Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj at Kim Il Sung University, North Korea|first=Elbegdorj|last=Tsakhia|date=2 November 2013|via=YouTube}}</ref>

==== Participation in UN Peacekeeping operations ====
[[File:Elbegdorj in Sudan.jpg|thumb|center|510px|Elbegdorj in the center of front row, with the [[UNMISS]] and South Sudanese authorities, and Mongolian troops in South Sudan on 15 February 2013]]

As commander-in-chief of the [[Mongolian Armed Forces]], Elbegdorj supports Mongolia's commitment and participation in [[List of United Nations peacekeeping missions|United Nations Peacekeeping operations]]. Since 2001, Mongolian troops have participated in international peacekeeping missions in [[Iraq]], [[Sierra Leone]], [[South Sudan]], [[Ethiopia]], [[Democratic Republic of the Congo|Congo]], [[Eritrea]], [[Chad]], [[Darfur]], [[Western Sahara]], [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]], and [[Afghanistan]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Peacekeeping operations|url=https://www.un.org/en/peacekeeping/operations|access-date=24 June 2013|publisher=The United Nations}}</ref> Under Elbegdorj's presidency, Mongolia became one of the top 20 peacekeeping contributors to the United Nations peacekeeping missions in 2009.<ref name="64th session">{{cite web|last=Tsakhia|first=Elbegdorj|title=Mr. Tsakhia Elbegdorj at the 64th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (part 2)|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FXRDgeRHxlQ|access-date=1 August 2013|publisher=youtube.com|date=28 September 2009}}</ref>

[[File:Elbegdorj in Sudan 2.jpg|thumb|right|280px|Elbegdorj in the center of front row, with Mongolian troops in South Sudan on 15 February 2013]]
Elbegdorj visited South Sudan to encourage Mongolian soldiers on 15 February 2013.<ref>{{cite web|title=Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj, Mongolian president visits peacekeeping forces in South Sudan|url=http://bnaidarfur.org/tag/tsakhiagiin-elbegdorj|access-date=7 July 2013|publisher=B'nai Darfur|date=17 February 2013}}</ref>

"Elbegdorj's visit was the first to South Sudan by a head of state from outside Africa. His visit is also the first from a country contributing troops to the UN mission," Hiruy Amanuel, chief political affairs representative at [[UNMISS]] said.<ref>{{cite news|title=Mongolian president visits peacekeeping forces in South Sudan|url=http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article45561|access-date=7 July 2013|work=Sudan Tribune|date=17 February 2013}}</ref> As an officer in the Mongolian Armed Forces, Elbegdorj's son Erdene Elbegdorj participated in the United Nations peacekeeping mission in South Sudan from March to November 2013.<ref>{{cite news| title=President's son greets from South Sudan|url=http://factnews.mn/cgw|publisher=factnews.mn (in Mongolian)|date=24 June 2013|access-date=2 July 2013}}</ref>

In addition, as an active member of the UN peacekeeping missions, "Mongolia stands committed to enhancing its contribution, including through hosting training for civil police and medical personnel at its training centre," Elbegdorj stated at the General Debate of the 64th session of the United Nations General Assembly on 28 September 2009.<ref name="64th session" />

Analysing the role of peacekeeping in Mongolia's military strategy, Christopher Pultz mentions in his article the related "third neighbours" policy of the President: "Mongolia is developing a unique military strategy that attempts to balance conventional and peacekeeping capabilities. Having moved away from its previous security arrangements with Russia, Mongolia now pursues a foreign policy that will facilitate global engagement while allowing the country to maintain its sovereignty, national identity, and diplomatic freedom of maneuver through a "third neighbor" policy."<ref>{{cite web|title=The Role of Peacekeeping in Mongolia's Military Strategy: A New Paradigm for Security|author= Christopher Pultz|url= http://www.nbr.org/publications/element.aspx?id=729|website=www.nbr.org}}</ref> In an interview with the President in a documentary (titled "Mongolia – Democratic Anchor of the East"), Elbegdorj explained the same policy in details.

==== Nuclear-free status ====
Elbegdorj has committed Mongolia to be nuclear-free and a nuclear free world as a principal component of his foreign policy agenda. The United Nations [[Security Council]] recognized Mongolia's nuclear-weapon-free status on 17 September 2012 despite the fact that it cannot join one of the World's Nuclear-Weapon-Free-Zones, in part, because of the country's close proximity to nuclear-armed states Russia and China.<ref>{{cite news|last=Kaufman|first=Stephen|title=Mongolia's nuclear weapon free status recognized|publisher=U.S. Department of State|url=http://iipdigital.usembassy.gov/st/english/article/2012/09/20120919136258.html#axzz289pjk8T5|access-date=3 October 2012|date=19 September 2012}}</ref> Mongolia renounced nuclear materials and became a member of [[Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe]] in 2013 and UN General Assembly's President Vuk Jeremic congratulated Elbegdorj for these.<ref>{{cite news|last=Radojcic|first=Maja|title=President of the UN Assembly Vuk Jeremic visited Mongolia|publisher=In Serbia|url=http://inserbia.info/news/2013/06/president-of-the-un-assembly-vuk-jeremic-visited-mongolia|date=21 June 2013|access-date=24 June 2013}}</ref>

Elbegdorj made international headlines in 2012 after being the first world leader invited to visit the Iranian nuclear facility in Natanz. After his visit, he stressed "the program has to be transparent to the world; in particular, the program must be under permanent supervision of the United Nations and the [[International Atomic Energy Agency]]. Iran's nuclear program must not endanger or cause threat to the interests and security of regional peace as well as of any other nation. Mongolia remains committed to safeguarding her nuclear free status, supported by the special UN resolutions. Mongolia will seek to contribute to securing universal peace by fully banning nuclear weapons in East Asia and the world at large."<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Karimi|first=Nasser|title=Iran opens nuclear site to Mongolia's president|url=http://www.businessweek.com/ap/2012-09-03/iran-opens-nuclear-site-to-mongolias-president|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120908061554/http://www.businessweek.com/ap/2012-09-03/iran-opens-nuclear-site-to-mongolias-president|url-status=dead|archive-date=8 September 2012|access-date=23 June 2013|magazine=Bloomberg Businessweek|date=3 September 2012}}</ref>

Opposing to storing nuclear waste in Mongolia, Elbegdorj said "We&nbsp;... firmly oppose to storing nuclear waste on Mongolian soil," in his speech at the High-Level Meeting on the Rule of Law of the 67th session of the United Nations General Assembly on 24 September 2012.<ref>{{cite web|title=Statement by H.E. Mr.Elbegdorj Tsakhia, President of Mongolia at the United Nations General Assembly High Level Meeting on the Rule of Law at the national and international levels|publisher=United Nations Rule of Law Unit|url=http://www.unrol.org/files/Statement%20by%20Mongolia.pdf|date=24 September 2012|access-date=1 August 2013|archive-date=7 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121007122155/http://www.unrol.org/files/Statement%20by%20Mongolia.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> Before, he noted it in his speech at the General Debate of the 66th session of the United Nations General Assembly on 21 September 2011.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.president.mn/eng/newsCenter/viewNews.php?newsId=597|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120611210128/http://www.president.mn/eng/newsCenter/viewNews.php?newsId=597|url-status=dead|archive-date=11 June 2012|title=Statement by Elbegdorj Tsakhia, President of Mongolia at the General Debate of the 66th Session of the United Nations General Assembly|date=21 September 2011}}</ref>

==== Foreign investment policy ====
About foreign investment policy, Elbegdorj stated "I stand open to cooperate with responsible, transparent and law-obedient investors aligned with the development interests of Mongolia," in his inaugural address for his second term <ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.infomongolia.com/ct/ci/6262|url-status=dead|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130715093747/http://www.infomongolia.com/ct/ci/6262|archive-date = 15 July 2013|title=Inaugural Address by Ts.Elbegdorj, President of Mongolia at the Ceremony of Presidential Swearing Into Office|publisher=InfoMongolia.com}}</ref> as the country's president on 10 July 2013.

Furthermore, while speaking about judicial reforms<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.oxfordbusinessgroup.com/news/diversifying-growth-obg-talks-president-ts-elbegdorj|title = OBG talks to President Ts. Elbegdorj|date = 27 January 2013}}</ref> to protect domestic and foreign investors, Elbegdorj said "Our goal is to change it from a system that serves those in power to one that serves the public. It is important to note that when we say 'the people' we are also referring to our foreign investment partners."<ref>"Diversifying for growth: OBG talks to President Ts. Elbegdorj". ''Oxford Business Journal'', 2013.</ref>

The United States Senate passed Resolution Number 208<ref>{{cite web|url=http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c112:S.+Res.+208:|title=Congress.gov - Library of Congress|website=thomas.loc.gov}}{{Dead link|date=August 2021 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> on the occasion of Elbegdorj's visit to the United States on 15 June 2011. The resolution title is "Expressing the sense of the Senate regarding Mongolian President Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj's visit to Washington, D.C., and its support for the growing partnership between the United States and Mongolia." The resolution noted "Whereas on May 24, 2009, the people of Mongolia completed the country's fourth free, fair, and peaceful democratic election, which resulted in the election of opposition Democratic Party candidate Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj." The Senate's resolution resolved "It is the sense of the Senate that Mongolian President Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj's historic visit to Washington, D.C. cements the growing friendship between the governments and peoples of the United States and Mongolia; the continued commitment of the Mongolian people and the Government of Mongolia to advancing democratic reforms, strengthening transparency and the rule of law, and protecting investment deserves acknowledgment and celebration."<ref>{{cite web|title=112th Congress (2011–2012) Senate Resolution No.208 – Expressing the sense of the Senate regarding Mongolian President Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj's visit to Washington, D.C., and its support for the growing partnership between the United States and Mongolia (Agreed to Senate)|publisher=The Library of Congress|url=http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c112:S.+Res.+208:|date=15 June 2011|access-date=25 July 2013}}{{Dead link|date=August 2021 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
[[File:Elbegdorj speaking at Fair Mineral Development roundtable.jpg|thumb|Elbegdorj speaking at "Fair Mineral Development" roundtable co-hosted by his office and the [[World Economic Forum]] in Ulaanbaatar on 17 June 2010]]

Elbegdorj initiated and co-hosted with the [[World Economic Forum]] "Fair Mineral Development" roundtable in Ulaanbaatar in June 2010. It was the first multi-stakeholder meeting in the mineral resource rich country focusing on determining the key stakeholders for negotiating mineral development agreements, and decision-making authorities in the licensing negotiation process; transparency issues in the negotiation process; issues related to land tenure, royalties and taxes; reopening and renegotiation of mineral agreements;  dispute resolution mechanisms; and revenue distribution, work force and community development.<ref>{{cite web|last=Tonkin|first=Samantha|title=World Economic Forum shines spotlight on fair mineral development in Mongolia|publisher=World Economic Forum|url=http://forumblog.org/2010/06/world-economic-forum-shines-spotlight-on-fair-mineral-development-in-mongolia|date=29 June 2010|access-date=25 July 2013}}</ref> With the World Economic Forum, Elbegdorj co-organized second roundtable "Responsible Mineral Development Initiative" in the Citizens' Hall under the Office of the President of Mongolia during the [[Mongolia Economic Forum]] on 3–4 March 2011.<ref>{{cite book|title=Responsible Mineral Development Initiative 2011|publisher=World Economic Forum|url=http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_MM_Report_2011.pdf|place=Davos|page=33|year=2011|access-date=25 July 2013}}</ref> "More and more mineral development agreements are expected for Mongolia in this century," Elbegdorj noted in his opening remarks at this second roundtable. He highlighted "Supporting sustainable development and making the minerals sector beneficial to the people and the country's development, while working in good cooperation with foreign investors, and making the government's operations transparent to the public are some of the issues of utmost concern for countries such as ours."<ref>{{cite web|title=Responsible mineral development and transparency issues discussed at the Citizens' Hall|publisher=president.mn|url=http://www.president.mn/eng/newsCenter/viewNews.php?newsId=497|date=2 March 2011|access-date=25 July 2013}}</ref>

==== Dinosaur fossil return ====
The auction of a nearly complete dinosaur's skeleton<ref>{{cite web|last=Parry|first=Wynne|title=Smuggled Dinosaur's Return May Boost Mongolian Paleontology|publisher=Live Science|url=http://www.livescience.com/32088-smuggled-dinosaur-boosts-mongolia-paleontology.html|date=17 May 2013|access-date=25 June 2013}}</ref> eight feet tall and 24 feet long<ref name="dino">{{cite news|title=Mongolian dinosaur skeleton goes home|newspaper=The Washington Post|place=Washington|url=https://articles.washingtonpost.com/2013-05-08/lifestyle/39110984_1_mongolian-president-tsakhia-elbegdorj-eric-prokopi-dinosaur-fossils|date=8 May 2013|access-date=24 June 2013|archive-date=13 May 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130513040515/http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2013-05-08/lifestyle/39110984_1_mongolian-president-tsakhia-elbegdorj-eric-prokopi-dinosaur-fossils|url-status=dead}}</ref> rare ''[[Tarbosaurus]] T. bataar''<ref>{{cite web|title=Dinosaur Skeleton Illegally Smuggled Into U.S. Goes Home To Mongolia|publisher=Fox News Latino|url=http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/lifestyle/2013/05/06/dinosaur-skeleton-illegally-smuggled-into-us-goes-home-to-mongolia|date=6 May 2013|access-date=7 July 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Parry|first=Wynne|title=Despite Legal Challenge, Tyrannosaur Sells for $1 million|publisher=Live Science|url=http://www.livescience.com/20451-tyrannosaur-auction-dispute.html|date=20 May 2012|access-date=24 June 2013}}</ref>  scavenged from Mongolia was announced at Heritage Auctions in New York City on 20 May 2012 with the asking price of one million dollars.<ref name="dino be auctioned">{{cite web|title=Disputed dinosaur fossil auctioned for $1 million in NYC|agency=Associated Press |url=http://bigstory.ap.org/content/disputed-dinosaur-fossil-auctioned-1m-nyc|date=21 May 2012|access-date=24 June 2013}}</ref> Fossils found in Mongolia are the property of Mongolia and its people by law.<ref name="dino" /> Receiving a complaint from a Mongolian paleontologist,<ref>{{cite news|last=Williams|first=Page|title=Bones of contention: Florida man's curious trade in Mongolian dinosaurs|magazine=The New Yorker|place=New York|url=http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2013/01/28/130128fa_fact_williams|date=28 January 2013|access-date=7 July 2013}}</ref> Elbegdorj promptly filed a lawsuit claiming the illegally smuggled skeleton from Mongolia in the United States Court through his American lawyer.<ref>{{cite web|last=Painter|first=Robert|title=Official statement of His Excellency Elbegdorj Tsakhia, President of Mongolia, regarding the seizure of the Tyrannosaurus bataar skeleton by the U.S. Government|publisher=Painter Law Firm|url=http://www.painterfirm.com/a/104/Official-statement-of-His-Excellency-Elbegdorj-Tsakhia-President-of-Mongolia-regarding-the-seizure-of-the-Tyrannosaurus-bataar-skeleton-by-the-US-Government|date=22 June 2012|access-date=24 June 2013}}</ref> Elbegdorj won the case with the professional help of internationally well known American and Mongolian paleontologists.<ref>{{cite web|last=Parry|first=Wynne|title=Dealer Pleads Guilty to Smuggling in Largest International Dino Case Ever|publisher=Live Science|url=http://www.livescience.com/25879-dealer-pleads-guilty-tarbosaur-smuggling.html|date=29 December 2012|access-date=24 June 2013}}</ref> The U.S. authorities handed the fossils to the Mongolian party in May 2013 after the case was resolved.<ref>{{cite web|last=Ferrigno|first=Lorenze|title=Dinosaur bones headed home to Mongolia|publisher=CNN|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2013/05/06/us/dinosaur-mongolia|date=7 May 2013|access-date=24 June 2013}}</ref> The skeleton, returned to Mongolia along with other dinosaur fossils, was on public display  at [[Sükhbaatar Square]] in [[Ulaanbaatar]] for a few months.<ref>{{cite web|title=Photo news: The 70 million year old T-bataar is now available for public viewing in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia|publisher=infomongolia.com|url=http://www.infomongolia.com/ct/ci/6106|date=10 June 2013|access-date=25 July 2013}}</ref> This is the first lawsuit ever claimed abroad by a Mongolian president. The dinosaur fossil dealer pleaded guilty and faced a sentence of up to 17 years in prison in the USA.<ref>{{cite news|last=Ross and McShane|first=Barbara and Larry|title=Florida paleontologist Eric Prokopi pleads guilty to smuggling pricy dinosaur bones, faces 17 years behind bars |newspaper=New York Daily News|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/dino-bone-smuggler-pleads-guilty-article-1.1228503|date=27 December 2012|access-date=7 July 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Olien|first=Jessica|title=How (Not) to Smuggle a Dinosaur|magazine=Pacific Standard|place=Santa Barbara, CA|url=https://psmag.com/news/dinosaur-tyrannosaurus-skeleton-smuggled-51851|date=23 January 2013|access-date=7 July 2013}}</ref>

=== Domestic policy ===
==== Anti-corruption ====
Elbegdorj's presidential actions have focused on advocating anti-corruption measures.<ref>{{cite news|last=Desai and Kaufman|first=Sagar and David|title=Mongolian President Talks Corruption And Human Rights|url=http://www.thecrimson.com/article/2012/9/24/mongolian-president-institute-politics/|access-date=23 June 2013|magazine=The Crimson (Harvard University)|place=Cambridge, MA|date=24 September 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Tsakhia|first=Elbegdorj|title=Every man and woman can live a free and peaceful life|publisher=news.mn|url=http://english.news.mn/content/142227.shtml|access-date=29 June 2013|date=29 April 2013}}</ref> "I sincerely believe that the true enemy of democracy and freedom is corruption&nbsp;... The worst theft is corruption which damages people's common rights and liberties&nbsp;... I am convinced that fighting corruption must be one of the most important duties of the Mongolian State today," Elbegdorj noted.<ref>{{cite web|title=Elbegdorj Addresses Dystopic Mongolia |publisher=Investorvillage.com |url=http://investorvillage.com/mbthread.asp?mb=10163&tid=11787547&showall=1|access-date=29 June 2013|date=2 June 2012}}</ref> Previously, during his two terms as a prime minister, he worked to uncover and eliminate several corruption scandals including his handling of the Erdenet Mining Corporation's embezzlement scandal in 1998,<ref>{{cite news|title=Mongolia opposition wins election|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8065608.stm|access-date=8 August 2012|work=BBC News|date=25 May 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=E|first=Enerel|title=Mongolian Economy and Finance|publisher=Mongolia Economy (blog)|url=http://mongoliaeconomy.blogspot.com/2012/06/conversation-with-tsakhia-elbegdorj.html|access-date=21 June 2013|date=30 June 2012}}</ref> and his administration dug out the Customs chairman's corruption case in 2005. In September 2009 Elbegdorj replaced the Community Council of Independent Authority Against Corruption (IAAC) formed by former President [[Nambaryn Enkhbayar]] which included sports and music stars and supreme clergy while expressing his dissatisfaction with its investigation of petty corruption instead of political level corruption.<ref>{{cite news|title=Independent Authority Against Corruption and the President|url=http://news.gogo.mn/r/60592|access-date=21 June 2013|publisher=gogo.mn (in Mongolian)|date=9 October 2009}}</ref> He then reorganized the council with professional lawyers.<ref>{{cite web|title=New community council established by the president visited IAAC|publisher=Independent Authority Against Corruption of Mongolia|url=http://www.iaac.mn/index.php?coid=492&cid=19|access-date=21 June 2013|date=7 October 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140106040256/http://www.iaac.mn/index.php?coid=492&cid=19|archive-date=6 January 2014}}</ref>

To create a dialogue among different stakeholders in the natural resources and mining community to stop corruption Elbegdorj opened a roundtable in Ulaanbaatar in collaboration with the [[World Economic Forum]]'s ''Partnering Against Corruption Initiative (PACI)'' in March 2011. The meeting brought together top executives of Mongolian industries and NGOs to discuss anti-corruption initiatives in Mongolia.<ref>{{cite web|title=Partnership Against Corruption Initiative|publisher=The World Economic Forum|url=http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_PACI_MongoliaRoundtable_Report_2011.pdf|access-date=8 August 2012|date=3 March 2011}}</ref> Moreover, he encouraged the parliament to take actions to prevent from corruption and jointly organized with the parliament's State Standing Committee and the [[International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance]] "Policy Reform and the Funding of Political Activities" forum.<ref>{{cite web|last=Ariuka|title=Not to make many Customs Baatar be born|publisher=shuurhai.mn (in Mongolian)|url=http://www.shuurhai.mn/28894.html|access-date=21 June 2013|date=1 November 2012}}</ref>
[[File:Mongolian President Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj.JPG|thumb|Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj making a speech]]

Elbegdorj sees [[Genghis Khan|Chinggis Khaan]] (also referred to as Genghis Khan) as a leader from whom to learn for anti-corruption efforts. He said that Genghis Khan sought equal protection under the law for all citizens regardless of status or wealth. "Chinggis&nbsp;... was a man who deeply realized that the justice begins and consolidates with the equality of law, and not with distinctions between people. He was a man who knew that good laws and rules lived longer than fancy palaces," Elbegdorj highlighted in his speech<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.president.mn/eng/newsCenter/viewNews.php?newsId=848 |title=Speech by Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj, President of Mongolia, at a solemn assembly dedicated to the 850th anniversary of the birth of Chinggis Khaan|date=14 November 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130414040552/http://www.president.mn/eng/newsCenter/viewNews.php?newsId=848 |archive-date=14 April 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> on the 850th anniversary of Chinggis Khaan's birth.

"The crime called corruption is committed by public servants, and not citizens," Elbegdorj pointed out at the High-Level Meeting on the Rule of Law of the 67th session of the United Nations General Assembly on 24 September 2012. "Today we put an end to&nbsp;... amorality. We cannot afford to let Mongolia's future be tortured by corrupt officials for another year, another decade&nbsp;... We must put an end to this,"<ref>{{cite web|first=Elbegdorj|last=Tsakhia|title=Inaugural address to the nation|url=http://president.mn/eng/newsCenter/viewNews.php?newsId=11|publisher=president.mn|date=18 June 2009|access-date=31 July 2013|archive-date=13 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120313170848/http://www.president.mn/eng/newsCenter/viewNews.php?newsId=11|url-status=dead}}</ref> Elbegdorj pointed out in his first inaugural address. Thus under Elbegdorj's presidency, embezzlement and corruption cases amounting from millions to hundreds of millions of dollars, ranging from misappropriation of state properties and assets such as a printing factory, buildings, funds and taxes have been tried and the courts convicted high level statesmen including a former president of Mongolia,<ref>{{cite web|title=Mining wealth distribution key issue in Mongolia polls|newspaper=China Post |url=http://www.chinapost.com.tw/asia/other/2013/06/24/381946/Mining-wealth.htm|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130624234556/http://www.chinapost.com.tw/asia/other/2013/06/24/381946/Mining-wealth.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=24 June 2013|access-date=24 June 2013|date=24 June 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Kaiman|first=Jonathan|title=Mongolia's new wealth and rising corruption is tearing the nation apart|newspaper=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/jun/27/mongolia-new-wealth-rising-corruption|access-date=24 June 2013|date=27 June 2012}}</ref> a former chairman of Mineral Resources Authority, ex-chairmen of state owned Mongolian Airlines MIAT and their allies.<ref>{{cite web|agency=Associated Press|title=Incumbent favored over wrestler as anti-graft pledges dominate Mongolian presidential campaign|publisher=Fox News|url=https://www.foxnews.com/world/incumbent-favored-over-wrestler-as-anti-graft-pledges-dominate-mongolian-presidential-campaign/|access-date=8 July 2013|date=25 June 2013}}</ref> In addition, big scale corruption cases involving suspects such as former health and education ministers, former deputy chairman of Tax Authority are under investigation.<ref>{{cite web|last=B.|first=Semuun|title=We all 2.9 million pay corruption price: An interview with MP and Justice Minister Kh.Temuujin|publisher=news.mn (in Mongolian)|url=http://politics.news.mn/content/149043.shtml|access-date=24 June 2013|date=24 June 2013|archive-date=27 June 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130627131918/http://politics.news.mn/content/149043.shtml|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Mongolia's corruption perception ranking reduced by 26 places in one year from 2011 to 2012 comparing to the 120th place to the 94th according to Transparency International.<ref>{{cite web|title=Corruption by Country/Mongolia|publisher=Transparency International|url=http://www.transparency.org/country#MNG/|access-date=21 June 2013}}</ref> U.S. Secretary of State [[Hillary Clinton]] applauded Elbegdorj and Mongolia on the country's democratic progress and efforts to end corruption in her speech<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.state.gov/secretary/rm/2012/07/194696.htm|title=Remarks to the International Women's Leadership Forum|date=12 July 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120712185512/http://www.state.gov/secretary/rm/2012/07/194696.htm |access-date=8 July 2022|archive-date=12 July 2012 }}</ref> at the International Women's Leadership Forum in Ulaanbaatar on 9 July 2012.<ref>{{cite web|last=Clinton|first=Hillary|title=Remarks to the International Women's Leadership Forum|publisher=U.S. Department of State|url=https://www.state.gov/secretary/rm/2012/07/194696.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120712185512/http://www.state.gov/secretary/rm/2012/07/194696.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=12 July 2012|access-date=31 July 2012|date=9 July 2012}}</ref>

==== Judicial reform ====
By the Constitution of Mongolia, the President of Mongolia appoints the justices and judges of all levels of courts of Mongolia.<ref name="Constitution" /> Elbegdorj convened "Judicial Reform and Justice" Forum in [[Ulaanbaatar]], Mongolia in April 2011.<ref>{{cite news|title=Wide participation at national forum on judicial reform and justice |url=http://www.bcmongolia.org/news/1110-wide-participation-at-national-forum-on-judicial-reform-and-justice|access-date=31 July 2012|newspaper=Business Council of Mongolia|date=22 April 2011}}</ref> Mongolian parliament passed a package law on judicial reform submitted by Elbegdorj in 2011. Those laws were designed to ensure the impartiality of judges and justices and created a merit-based system for the selection of new judges and justices. In addition, the judicial reform allows citizens' representatives to participate in court hearings and trials and requires that all judicial decisions be placed on the Internet open to the public.<ref>{{cite web|title=Mongolia's President Says Human Rights 'Universal'|publisher=Asia Society|url=http://asiasociety.org/policy/governance/national/mongolias-president-says-human-rights-universal|date=19 September 2011|access-date=23 June 2013}}</ref>

==== Environmental protection ====
The [[United Nations Environment Programme|United Nations Environmental Programme]] awarded Elbegdorj as a Champion of the Earth for his commitment to environmental protection on 4 June 2012.<ref>{{cite news|title=Mongolian President among six 'Champions of the Earth' named in 2012 UNEP Awards|url=http://www.unep.org/champions/champions2012.asp|access-date=31 July 2012|publisher=The United Nations Environmental Programme|date=4 June 2012}}</ref> U.N. Secretary General [[Ban Ki-moon]] highly appreciates Elbegdorj's contribution to the international community's efforts for ensuring sustainable development and keeping climate change issues under control, as he emphasized in his congratulatory note to Elbegdorj for his re-election as President of Mongolia on 2 July 2013.<ref>{{cite news|last=B.|first=Khuder|title=Ban Ki-moon congratulates re-elected President|url=http://www.montsame.gov.mn/en/index.php/politics/item/1344-ban-ki-moon-congratulates-re-elected-president|access-date=3 July 2013|publisher=Montsame News Agency|date=3 July 2013}}</ref> In addition, Elbegdorj worked as a member of the [[World Economic Forum]]'s Global Agenda Council on Climate Change for the year of 2011.<ref name="Asia Foundation">{{cite web|title=Asia Foundation Hosts His Excellency President Elbegdorj of Mongolia|url=http://asiafoundation.org/news/2011/06/asia-foundation-hosts-his-excellency-president-elbegdorj-of-mongolia |date=14 June 2011 |publisher=Asia Foundation |access-date=6 July 2013}}</ref>

Elbegdorj declared a day as Tree Planting Day by decree on 4 April 2010<ref>{{cite web|title=Tree planting day|url=http://forestry.gov.mn/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=135:2012-05-07-02-59-56&catid=2:2011-05-23-16-13-31&Itemid=20|date=7 May 2012|access-date=25 July 2013|publisher=Forestry Authority – Government implementing agency of Mongolia(in Mongolian)}}</ref> and has been organizing a tree planting campaign around the country.<ref>{{cite web|last=Ch.|first=Enkhtuya|title=Tree Planting National Day to run|publisher=Montsame News Agency|url=http://montsame.gov.mn/en/index.php/politics/item/703-national-day-of-tree-planting-to-run|access-date=29 June 2013|date=10 May 2013}}</ref> On that day organizations and people plant trees to alleviate desertification in Mongolia. Many non-governmental organizations and social networks support Elbegdorj's call to plant trees.<ref>{{cite web|title=Planting trees|url=https://www.facebook.com/events/568592443185244/|access-date=22 June 2013|publisher=My Club (online community)(in Mongolian)}}</ref> He ordered schools to have environmental subjects in schools' curricula.<ref name="environment">{{cite news|title=Mongolian President Ts. Elbegdorj named as the Global Leader|magazine=Mongolian Economy|place=Ulaanbaatar|url=http://mongolianeconomy.mn/en/e/2300|date=7 June 2012|access-date=7 July 2013}}</ref> With support from his office, students began to plant and take care of trees they planted around their schools and television serials on planting trees have been broadcast.<ref>{{cite web|title=Green City 2012 campaign prior to Tree Planting Day even will be organized on Builders Square|publisher=Mongolia's Ministry of Environment and Green Development(in Mongolian)|url=http://mne.mn/v3/?p=3081#.UchCZfmmiAg|access-date=21 June 2013|date=10 May 2012}}</ref> On 14 May 2011, Tree Planting Day, Mongolians planted two million trees.<ref name="Asia Foundation" /> The event became a tradition of planting two million trees on every Tree Planting Day annually. In addition, his policy includes an environmentally friendly policy in the mining industry.<ref name="environment" />

At the invitation of Elbegdorj, the [[World Economic Forum]]-Water Resources Group and Office of the President of Mongolia co-organized the ''Water Secure Future in Mongolia'' conference in Ulaanbaatar on 3 June 2011 in which over 100 government officials, parliamentarians, civil society and private sector representatives participated to find ways to safeguard Mongolia's scarce water resources in the context of its rapid economic growth. They discussed water use in the mining, agricultural and municipal sectors, shared case studies of international good practice for boosting water efficiency and ways of safeguarding Mongolia's water supplies. As a result, Elbegdorj and [[Peter Brabeck-Letmathe]], Chairman of the World Economic Forum-Water Resources Group and Member of the World Economic Forum Foundation Board, committed to forming a Mongolian Water Alliance of key government entities, civil society representatives and private sector participants to support the transformation of Mongolia's water sector. Elbegdorj defined the purpose of the alliance by saying<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.weforum.org/news/mongolian-president-declares-intent-form-new-alliance-water-security| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110611233343/http://www.weforum.org/news/mongolian-president-declares-intent-form-new-alliance-water-security| archive-date = 11 June 2011| title = Mongolian President Declares Intent to Form New Alliance for Water Security {{!}} World Economic Forum-Mongolian President Declares Intent to Form New Alliance for Water Security}}</ref> "Managing our future water needs is key to sustaining Mongolia's economic growth. We must ensure fast and effective implementation of our National Water Plan. We will benefit from the international networks and experience of the Water Resources Group to help us do so."<ref>{{cite web|last=Elliott|first=Richard|title= Mongolian President Declares Intent to Form New Alliance for Water Security|publisher=World Economic Forum|url=http://www.weforum.org/news/mongolian-president-declares-intent-form-new-alliance-water-security|access-date=6 July 2013|date=7 June 2011}}</ref>

President Elbegdorj took part in the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP21), in Paris, France. He delivered remarks at the Conference. Heads of State and Governments of 195 countries, and more than 50 thousand representatives of civil society and private sector have gathered for the Climate Change Conference which will be held in Le Bourget, from 30 November – 11 December 2015.

==== Smart Government ====
Elbegdorj introduced the Smart Government platform at the publicly broadcast event, "From A Big Government To A Smart Government" on 16 November 2013.<ref>{{cite web|title=President Elbegdorj: "From A Big Government to A Smart Government"|website = [[YouTube]]|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HpIvYHxVIQU|access-date=21 January 2014|date=4 December 2013}}</ref> Elbegdorj defines "smart government" as a combination of skilled people, technological advancements, research, and laws that all add up to creating a new mindset of how government must serve its citizens and enable (and not hinder) private sector development.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://ubpost.mongolnews.mn/?p=6954|title=Secret To Smart Government|access-date=8 January 2014}}</ref> The Smart Government program strives to reduce government involvement in business and economic matters, bolster property rights, modernize legal framework of the country, streamline the bureaucratic process, and combat corruption to further promote long-term sustainable growth in Mongolia.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.infomongolia.com/ct/ci/7024|title=From Big Government to Smart Government|access-date=7 January 2014}}</ref> Shortly after its introduction, the Members of the Parliament of Mongolia expressed their "full and unwavering support of the goal to move to a smart government."<ref name="Hural">{{cite web|url=http://www.infomongolia.com/ct/ci/7156|access-date=21 January 2014|date=16 December 2013|title=Members of the State Great Hural join the statement of support for a smart government}}</ref>

Elbegdorj's Smart Government Program has fifteen key initiatives as follows:
# Enhance all government systems, policies and operations in conformity with the values of democracy and principles of market economy;
# Ensure the integrity and cohesion of the state policies and actions;
# Reform the organization, operations and processes of public service and institute accountability mechanisms at every level of the government;
# Improve the capacities and efficiency of the public service;
# Eliminate government participation in business activities;
# Affirm our full and unwavering support of the goal to make political discourse immune to business influences;
# Intensify the fight against corruption;
# Support domestic industries;
# Ensure economic growth by securing property rights and supporting the private sector;
# Create government structures based on the rule of law and provide for inclusiveness, producing research-based decisions and services;
# Instill the discipline to honour/implement contracts;
# Support direct democracy, sovereignty of local governments and local development funds;
# Create a long-term national development strategy and codify it by law;
# Improve the election law;
# Introduce information technologies to streamline and modernize government.<ref name="Hural" />

==== Supporting education ====
On 20 May 2013, Elbegdorj issued a decree that directed the government to provide financial support to Mongolian students to study at the world's top universities. By the implementation of the decree, Mongolian students accepted at the world's top 20 universities will receive funding from the government regardless of their major, and those accepted at the world's top 100 universities will be financed by the government if their major is included in the government's preferred profession list.<ref>{{cite web|title=Mongolian President issues a decree to support students studying in the world's top universities|publisher=infomongolia.com|url=http://www.infomongolia.com/ct/ci/6025|access-date=22 June 2013|date=21 May 2013}}</ref>

Elbegdorj vetoed a section of a law amendment that would have increased his salary; in return, he submitted a bill to the Parliament to give allowance as salary from the government to all Mongolian students studying in Mongolia.<ref>{{cite web|last=Tsakhia|first=Elbegdorj|title=Elbegdorj:"The Parliament has to resolve students' salaries and tuition first, before deciding to increase the president's salary"|publisher=Office of the President of Mongolia|url=http://www.president.mn/eng/newsCenter/viewNews.php?newsId=399|access-date=22 June 2013|date=29 October 2010}}</ref> The law was passed and all Mongolian students studying at any university or college in Mongolia have received monthly allowances of 70,000 tugrugs since 2011 and the allowance may be increased to 96,000 tugrugs as per government decision in September 2013.<ref>{{cite web|last=P.|first=Galaa|title=Students' 70 thousand will become 96 thousand from next September|publisher=undesten.mn (in Mongolian)|url=http://undesten.mn/s/26055|access-date=22 June 2013|date=16 April 2013}}</ref>

Elbegdorj was a member of the board of directors of the "Young Leader" foundation of Mongolia in 1992–2009 and a member of the director's board of the Mongolian Academy of Political Education in 1993–2009.<ref>{{cite web|title=Elbegdorj Tsakhia – Biography|publisher=Mongolia-web.mn|url=http://www.mongolia-web.com/1179-elbegdorj-tsakhia-biography|access-date=29 June 2013|date=15 July 2007}}</ref>

==== Campaign to stop alcoholism ====
Elbegdorj has been calling for a curb on the abuse of alcohol in Mongolia. Under his auspices and in collaboration with his office, civil society and non-governmental organizations organized many activities such as the Alcohol-Free Mongolia campaign,<ref>{{cite web|title=Mongolian President HE Elbegdorj Tsakhia receives WHO Regional Director's First Special Recognition Award for Alcohol Control | url=http://www.wpro.who.int/mongolia/mediacentre/rd_recognition/en/index.html|date=24 October 2012|access-date=29 June 2013}}</ref> Elbegdorj banned the use of all alcoholic beverages at state dinners and state ceremonies under his name.<ref>{{cite web|title=National Network for Mongolia without Alcohol|publisher=National Network for Mongolia without Alcohol (in Mongolian)|url=http://www.arhiguimongol.mn|access-date=21 June 2013}}</ref> Also he called upon government and its agencies not to serve alcohol at official ceremonies and functions. The World Health Organization awarded Elbegdorj its Regional Director's special recognition plaque. The award honours the public health leadership of a country leader and it is the first award for alcohol control in the Western Pacific Region.<ref>{{cite web|title=Mongolian President HE Elbegdorj Tsakhia receives WHO Regional Director's First Special Recognition Award for Alcohol Control| url=http://www.un-mongolia.mn/new/?p=294|date=1 November 2012|access-date=29 June 2013}}</ref>

==== Naming 3 millionth citizen ====
When Mongolia's population officially reached 3 million with the birth of a baby girl in Umnugobi province in February 2015, President Elbegdorj welcomed the news with a cheer, personally calling the parents to congratulate the new-born citizen. As a symbol of unity and harmony, Elbegdorj requested that the girl be named Mongoljin.<ref>{{cite web|last1=n/a|first1=n.a|title=The third millionth citizen was given a name – Mongoljin by the President Ts.Elbegdorj|url=http://www.infomongolia.com/ct/ci/8888|website=Info Mongolia|publisher=n/a|access-date=17 March 2015}}</ref>

==Post-presidency==

On 23 September 2022, during the [[Russian invasion of Ukraine]] and following the start of the [[2022 Russian mobilization|Russian mobilization]], Elbegdorj published a video address in [[YouTube]], where he criticised the invasion and urged [[Russian president]] [[Vladimir Putin]] to "stop this senseless killing and destruction." He honoured Russians protesting against their government and instructed Russian draftees not to "shoot Ukrainians" and "kill that country". Elbegdorj also claimed that [[Buryats]], [[Tuvans]], and [[Kalmyks]] are "used as nothing more than cannon fodder", and that Mongolia is ready to shelter refugees fleeing Russia to avoid the military draft. He praised the "brave people" of Ukraine and [[President of Ukraine|President]] [[Volodymyr Zelenskyy]].<ref>{{cite web|title=The ex-president of Mongolia invited the Buryats, Tuvans and Kalmyks to flee to his country from mobilization|url=https://odessa-journal.com/the-ex-president-of-mongolia-invited-the-buryats-tuvans-and-kalmyks-to-flee-to-his-country-from-mobilization/|website=The Odessa Journal|date=24 September 2022|access-date=1 February 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Russia uses ethnic minorities as cannon fodder: Mongolia's former President|url=https://tvpworld.com/62948937/russia-uses-ethnic-minorities-as-cannon-fodder-mongolias-fmr-president|website=TVP World|date=24 September 2022|access-date=1 February 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=World Mongol|title=Message from Elbegdorj Tsakhia, President of the World Mongol Federation|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2qDzicmvxM&ab_channel=worldmongol|website=YouTube|date=23 September 2022|access-date=1 February 2023}}</ref>

In response to Vladimir Putin's usage of former administrative boundaries as a justification of the Russo-Ukrainian War, Elbegdorj tweeted "After Putin's talk, I found [a] Mongolian historic map", linking maps of modern-day Russia being included in the lands of the Mongol Empire. Included in his tweet was a humorous clarification that Mongolia would not invade Russia, because Mongolia is "a peaceful and free nation."<ref>{{cite web|title=Mongols Troll Putin With 'Historic Map'|url=https://www.newsweek.com/mongols-troll-putin-historic-map-1869344|website=Newsweek|author=McCartney, Micah|date=13 February 2024|access-date=6 July 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Mongolia's former president mocks Putin with a map showing how big the Mongol empire used to be, and how small Russia was|url=https://malaysia.news.yahoo.com/mongolias-former-president-mocks-putin-124949031.html|website=Yahoo News|author=Baker, Sinéad|date=12 February 2024|access-date=6 July 2024}}</ref> 
 
On 24 January 2023 in Washington, DC, USA, Elbegdorj participated in setting the Doomsday Clock at 90 seconds to midnight due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the increased risk of nuclear escalation. The Doomsday Clock's time is set by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists’ Science and Security Board and the Bulletin's Board of Sponsors including 10 Nobel Laureates. Elbegdorj said: "Today our world faces multiple crises. A common thread runs through them all: failure of leadership. We need a collective response rooted in the spirit and values of the UN Charter that can put us back on a pathway to peaceful co-existence and sustainable development."<ref>{{cite web|author=Spinazze, Gayle|title=Doomsday Clock set at 90 seconds to midnight|url=https://thebulletin.org/2023/01/press-release-doomsday-clock-set-at-90-seconds-to-midnight/|website=Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists|date=24 January 2023|access-date=1 February 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Borenstein, Seth|title=Ukraine war moves 'Doomsday Clock' to 90 seconds to midnight|url=https://winnipeg.citynews.ca/2023/01/24/doomsday-clock-midnight-ukraine-war/|website=Rogers Digital Media Television CityNews Winnipeg|date=24 January 2023|access-date=1 February 2023}}</ref>

On 31 August 2020, following the [[2020 Inner Mongolia protests|protests]] by [[Chinese Mongols]] against the Chinese authorities’ decision to replace their native Mongolian language in some school subjects with Chinese Mandarin in the [[Autonomous regions of China|Chinese autonomous region]] of [[Inner Mongolia]], Elbegdorj voiced his support in media,<ref>{{cite web|title=Ethnic Mongolians in China Face Crackdown as Protests Intensify|url=https://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/crackdown-09012020121942.html|website=Radio Free Asia|date=1 September 2020|access-date=1 February 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Inner Mongolia protests at China's plans to bring in Mandarin-only lessons|website=[[TheGuardian.com]] |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/sep/01/inner-mongolia-protests-china-mandarin-schools-language|date=1 September 2020|access-date=1 February 2023}}</ref> and social media and youtube.com.<ref>{{cite web|author=World Mongol|title=Message from Elbegdorj Tsakhia, President of the World Mongol Federation|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2qDzicmvxM&ab_channel=worldmongol|website=Youtube.com|date=23 September 2022|access-date=1 February 2023}}</ref> and wrote a letter to [[President of the People's Republic of China|Chinese President]] [[Xi Jinping]].<ref>{{cite web|author=Elbegdorj, Mongol Tsakhia|title=The Embassy of China have formally received my letter addressed to Mr. Xi Jinping, President of the PRC regarding the issue of the Mongolian language and script in Inner Mongolia
|url=https://twitter.com/elbegdorj/status/1309466615335927809|website=Twitter|date=24 September 2022|access-date=1 February 2023}}</ref>

Since stepping down from the presidency, Elbegdorj has been vocal about Mongolia's future of democracy and a market economy.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Adiya |first=Amar |date=2020-09-26 |title=Why Elbegdorj Shouldn't be Ignored |url=https://www.mongoliaweekly.org/post/why-elbegdorj-shouldn-t-be-ignored |access-date=2024-05-17 |website=Mongolia Weekly |language=en}}</ref>

== Family and personal life ==
Elbegdorj met [[Khajidsuren Bolormaa]] at a Mongolian students' party in [[Lviv]], Ukraine when they were students. After their marriage in [[Ulaanbaatar]], their first son was born in Lviv, Ukraine. They helped over 300 orphans through their Bolor Foundation. They adopted twenty children from the state-run Orphan Care Center ([[orphanage]]) in Ulaanbaatar after being the children's patrons for some time.<ref>{{cite news| title= Kh.Bolormaa: Only one politician for a family interview |newspaper=Ardchilal (Democracy) newspaper(in Mongolian)|place=Ulaanbaatar|date=May 2009|edition=Special |page=9}}</ref> Now they have twenty-five children: four sons of their own and twenty-one adopted children.<ref name="Ganchimeg" /><ref name="Desai" />

[[File:Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj and Slipenchuk in front of submersible.jpg|thumb|right|Elbegdorj talking to Anatoly Sagalevich after diving to the bottom of Lake Baikal in a submersible on 16 July 2010]] Elbegdorj became the first president to dive to the bottom of the world's deepest lake, [[Lake Baikal|Baikal]], in the [[Mir (submersible)|Mir-1]] mini-submersible on 16 July 2010.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.mn/r/526061/|title=President dives in Lake Baikal|website=News.mn|date=19 July 2010|access-date=26 April 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.unuudur.mn/a/7777?comment.t=45|title=Ts.Elbegdorj becomes the first foreign President who dove in Lake Baikal|website=Unuudur.mn|author=M.Sugaraa|date=19 July 2010|access-date=26 April 2023}}</ref>

Due to being president, in 2012 Elbegdorj asked his elder brother Arslandorj to give up his new position as a director of City Landscaping Department of Ulaanbaatar City though Arslandorj had worked there for more than 20 years before his brother's presidency. Long-time Democratic Party member Arslandorj quit his career at his brother's request. Arlsandorj is upset about stopping his professional career due to his brother's top political position. Arslandorj said: "As a brother, I followed to protect and helped Elbegdorj in difficult times, when Elbegdorj was facing life threatening risks during his co-organizing and co-leading the 1990 Mongolian democratic revolution." Arslandorj said that he would establish a private company specialized in his profession in future.<ref name="shudarga">{{cite news |title=President Ts.Elbegdorj, who could not have provided job to his brothers and sisters, put an ad in internet seeking work for his son |url=http://www.shudarga.mn/news/14677.html |website=Shudarga.mn (in Mongolian)|date=10 May 2013|access-date=1 July 2013}}</ref>

After Elbegdorj tweeted his job search in Mongolia for his eldest son Orgil (who had gotten a PhD. in medicinal chemistry from [[Virginia Commonwealth University]] in the United States), the son got a job at a private pharmaceutical company in Mongolia later.<ref name="shudarga" /> Elbegdorj's second son Erdene works in the [[Mongolian Armed Forces]] and served in the United Nations peacekeeping mission in South Sudan from March to November 2013.<ref>{{cite news |title=President's son E.Erdene along with other 210 peacekeepers has successfully completed the UN Mission in South Sudan |url=http://www.infomongolia.com/ct/ci/7091 |publisher=infomogolia.com|date=2 December 2013|access-date=5 January 2014}}</ref>

==Awards and honors received by Elbegdorj Tsakhia==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
!Country or Institution
!Award
!Date
|-
|'''[[United Nations Environment Programme]]''' || '''[[Champions of the Earth]] - Policy Leadership'''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.unep.org/championsofearth/laureates/2012/he-tsakhia-elbegdorj|title=H.E. Tsakhia Elbegdorj - Policy Leadership|date=22 August 2019 |access-date=6 July 2024}}</ref>||2012
|-
|'''{{Flagu|Ukraine}}'''||[[File:Order_of_Prince_Yaroslav_the_Wise_1st_2nd_and_3rd_Class_of_Ukraine.png|60px]] '''[[Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise]]''' (1st class)<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.president.gov.ua/documents/13753.html|title= Указ Президента Украiни № 714/2011|newspaper=president.gov.ua|date=29 June 2011|access-date= 20 October 2022|archive-date= 27 January 2014|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140127214601/https://www.president.gov.ua/documents/13753.html|url-status= dead}}</ref>||29 June 2011 
|-
|[[National Endowment for Democracy]] ||New York Democracy Forum Presidential Medal<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ned.org/events/new-york-democracy-forum-tsakhia-elbegdorj-and-roza-otunbayeva/
|title=New York Democracy Forum: Tsakhia Elbegdorj and Roza Otunbayeva|date=22 September 2011|access-date=6 July 2024}}</ref>||22 September 2011  
|-
|[[Asia Society]] ||Distinguished Statesmen Award<ref>{{cite web|url=https://asiasociety.org/henry-kissinger-community-needed-avoid-us-china-conflict|title=Henry Kissinger: 'Community' Needed to Avoid US-China Conflict|date=15 June 2011|access-date=6 July 2024}}</ref>||15 June 2011 
|-
|}

===Honorary degrees===

{| class="wikitable sortable"
!Country
!School
!Degree
!Date
|-
| {{Flagu|Ukraine}} || [[Hetman Petro Sahaidachnyi National Ground Forces Academy]] ||Honorary Doctorate<ref>{{cite web |title=Экс-президент Монголии предлагает бурятам, тувинцам и калмыкам бежать от мобилизации в его страну|author=Veselova, Natalia |url=https://postfactum.info/world/eks-prezident-mongolii-predlagaet-buryatam-tuvincam-i-kalmykam-bezhat-ot-mobilizacii-v-ego-stranu-11682.html|website=Postfactum.info - Ukraine and world info|date=24 September 2022|language=ru|access-date=7 July 2024}}</ref>||27 June 2011<ref>{{cite web |title=First honorary doctorate in its history|url=https://news.mn/r/565222/|website=news.mn|author=G., Nergui|date=28 June 2011|language=mn|access-date=7 July 2024}}</ref>
|-
| {{Flagu|Mongolia}} || [[Mongolian University of Science and Technology]] ||Honorary Doctorate<ref>{{cite web |title=Elbegdorj Tsakhia, President of Mongolia presented with honorary doctorate|url=https://must.edu.mn/mn/content/show/id/1845|website=Mongolian University of Science and Technology|date=10 March 2014|language=mn|access-date=7 July 2024}}</ref>||10 March 2014
|-
| {{Flagu|Japan}} || [[Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University]] ||Honorary Doctorate<ref>{{cite web |title=President of Mongolia presented with honorary doctorate|url=https://en.apu.ac.jp/home/news/article/?storyid=2639 |website=APU Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University|date=22 May 2015|language=en|access-date=7 July 2024}}</ref>||22 May 2015
|-
| {{Flagu|South Korea}} || [[Hankuk University of Foreign Studies]] || Honorary Doctorate<ref>{{cite web |title=Elbegdorj becomes honorary doctor of Hankuk University of Foreign Studies| url=https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA452825028&sid=sitemap&v=2.1&it=r&p=HRCA&sw=w&userGroupName=anon%7Eafda726f&aty=open-web-entry|website=Gale OneFile |date=20 May 2016|language=en|access-date=7 July 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Elbegdorj becomes honorary doctor of Hankuk University of Foreign Studies|url=https://www.montsame.mn/en/read/125067|website=Montsame|author=B., Khuder|date=20 May 2016|language=en|access-date=7 July 2024}}</ref>||20 May 2016
|-
|}

== References ==
=== Notes ===
{{Notelist}}

=== Citations ===
{{Reflist}}

=== Sources ===
* Brooke, James (25 December 2004). [https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F06E4DA1E30F936A15751C1A9629C8B63&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all The Saturday Profile; A Mongolian and His Nation, Evolving Together], [https://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F00C15FB35540C768EDDAB0994DC404482]. ''The New York Times''. p.&nbsp;5. Retrieved 23 June 2013.
* Brooke, James (26 December 2004). [http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/world/archives/2004/12/26/2003216779 ''Mongolian PM evolves from journalist to statesman'']. ''Taipei Times''. Retrieved 23 June 2013.
* Brooke, James (15 February 2005). [https://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/15/international/asia/15mongolia.html?ex=1266210000&en=0130a32542f0b181&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&pagewanted=all ''For Mongolians, E Is for English, F Is for Future'']. ''The New York Times''. Retrieved 23 June 2013.
* Harvard Kennedy School. John F. Kennedy School of Government (24 September 2012). [http://www.hks.harvard.edu/news-events/news/alumni/tsakhiagiin-elbegdorj ''Mongolian President Discusses Personal Liberty in a Free Country at JFK Jr. Forum''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140106032909/http://www.hks.harvard.edu/news-events/news/alumni/tsakhiagiin-elbegdorj |date=6 January 2014 }}- video of Elbegdorj Tsakhia's speech ''Harvard Kennedy School''. Retrieved 5 January 2014.
* Tsakhia, Elbegdorj (2000). ''Footstep of the Truth Is White''. Ulaanbaatar: Hiimori. (2000) {{ISBN|99929-74-01-X}}
* Tsakhia, Elbegdorj (2000). ''The Years of Bearing Weight''. Ulaanbaatar: Hiimori.
* Tsakhia, Elbegdorj (21 November 2005). [https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/20/AR2005112000840.html ''Mongolia: Moving Mountains'']. ''Washington Post''. Retrieved 23 June 2013.
* Tsakhia, Elbegdorj (6 April 2011). [https://foreignpolicy.com/articles/2011/04/06/what_mongolia_can_teach_the_middle_east ''What Mongolia Can Teach the Middle East'']. ''Foreign Policy''. Retrieved 23 June 2013.

== External links ==
===Documentary films===
* Amanpour, Christiane (25 September 2012).  [https://edition.cnn.com/videos/international/2012/09/25/amanpour-mongolia-tsakhiagiin-elbegdorj.cnn ''Fastest growing economy in the world''] CNN. interview with Tsakhia Elbegdorj. Retrieved 1 February 2023;
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_IT1LsHpTyY ''Man of the People''] documentary about Elbegdorj and Mongolia's democratic revolution. YouTube. 30 July 2015. Retrieved 1 February 2023;
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNKaqEcMw2c ''Mongolia - The Democratic Anchor of the East''] Elbegdorj's interview about Mongolia's foreign policy. YouTube. 30 July 2015. Retrieved 1 February 2023;
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EI4Cv04rKf0 ''Mongolia - On The Road of Democracy – Regional Co-operation in Asia''] documentary about Mongolia's role in its region by the eyes of international experts and Tsakhia Elbegdorj. March 2016. Retrieved 1 February 2023;

===Article===
* Frohm, Stuart (15 September 2004). [http://www.mackinac.org/article.aspx?ID=6788 ''Mongol Khan-Quest. Mongolia to Midland – and back''] article about Elbegdorj. Mackinac Center for Public Policy. Retrieved 1 February 2023.

===Interviews===
* Evans, Peter & Helen (6 April 2004). [https://web.archive.org/web/20160302221515/http://www.renewamerica.com/columns/evans/040327 ''Interview with Elbegdorj Tsakhia, the first democratic Prime Minister of Mongolia (Part 1)''],
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20140108175910/http://www.renewamerica.com/columns/evans/040329 ''(Part 2)''], [https://web.archive.org/web/20160302210805/http://www.renewamerica.com/columns/evans/040404 ''(Part 3)''], and [https://web.archive.org/web/20160302215914/http://www.renewamerica.com/columns/evans/040406 ''(Part 4)''], Renewamerica.com. Retrieved 1 February 2023;
* Myanmar Television (16 July 2016) [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_IlnPPdpY8g ''MITV News Exclusive Interview with Tsakhia Elbegdorj during his second visit to Myanmar'']. Naypyidaw, Myanmar. Retrieved 1 February 2023.

=== Lectures ===
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20130709231129/http://forum.iop.harvard.edu/content/public-address-his-excellency-tsakhiagiin-elbegdorj-president-mongolia ''President Elbegdorj's talk at Harvard Kennedy School's Institute of Politics''] Cambridge, MA, USA. 21 September 2012. A duplicate video at [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qV16q2PMZG4 Youtube] Retrieved 1 February 2023;
* [http://www.fpa.org/ckfinder/userfiles/files/283695_NY_Democracy_Elbegdorj.pdf ''Tsakhia Elbegdorj's talk at New York Democracy Forum Dinner'' (text)], [http://www.fpa.org/events/index.cfm?act=show_event&event_id=28 announcement] Foreign Policy Association. 25 September 2012. Retrieved 1 February 2023;
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20160526200940/http://president.mn/eng/newsCenter/viewNews.php?newsId=1333 ''Elbegdorj: Mongolian transition to democracy and lessons''],  [https://web.archive.org/web/20150924081546/http://www.president.mn/mongolian/sites/default/files/Hungary_lecture.pdf ''text''], [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdCrzZGSYN8&list=UUWP5QwG2MYj0GFQI6OvWzuw ''video''] Central European University, Budapest, Hungary. 18 October 2014. Retrieved 1 February 2023;
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EgTMtgIg5Ic#t=16 ''Elbegdorj's lecture at North Korea's Kim Il Sung University''] Pyongyang, North Korea. 31 October 2013. Retrieved 1 February 2023;
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20140805045729/http://www.president.mn/eng/newsCenter/viewEvent.php?cid=31&newsEvent=The%20state%20visit%20of%20the%20President%20of%20Mongolia%20Ts.Elbegdorj%20to%20the%20Democratic%20People%E2%80%99s%20Republic%20of%20Korea ''Elbegdorj: It is the human desire to live free that is an eternal power''] Pyongyang, North Korea. 31 October 2013. Retrieved 1 February 2023;
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBfPNcweCUg ''Elbegdorj's talk in Myanmar (Burma) addressing civil servants about democratic values''], Naypyidaw, Myanmar. 16 June 2016. Retrieved 1 February 2023;
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20160224104437/http://www.montsame.gov.mn/en/index.php/politics/item/2897-the-president-of-mongolia-gives-lecture-at-yangon-university/2897-the-president-of-mongolia-gives-lecture-at-yangon-university?start=3 ''Mongolian leader gives lecture at Yangon University''] Montsame News Agency. 21 November 2013. Retrieved 1 February 2023;

===Speeches===
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FXRDgeRHxlQ ''Mongolia's President Elbegdorj's speech at the 64th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (part 2)''] United Nations. Youtube.com. [https://www.un.org/en/ga/64/generaldebate/pdf/MN_en.pdf text]. 28 September 2009. Retrieved 1 February 2023;
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20160920224545/http://president.mn/eng/newsCenter/viewNews.php?newsId=1953 ''President Elbegdorj's opening statement at ASEM 11th Summit''] Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. 15 July 2016. Retrieved 1 February 2023;
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6vOPc28XdY ''Elbegdorj's talk at the European Parliament''], [https://web.archive.org/web/20160526211433/http://president.mn/eng/newsCenter/viewNews.php?newsId=1568  ''text''] Strausburg, France. 9 June 2015. Retrieved 1 February 2023;
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20160526090716/http://president.mn/eng/newsCenter/viewNews.php?newsId=434 ''Mongolia's President Elbegdorj's address to the National Diet - the Parliament of Japan''] Tokyo, Japan. 18 November 2010. Retrieved 1 February 2023;
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20160527041250/http://president.mn/eng/newsCenter/viewNews.php?newsId=684 ''President Elbegdorj's speech at the Bundestag''] Berlin, Germany. 31 March 2012. Retrieved 1 February 2023;
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20160526182643/http://president.mn/eng/newsCenter/viewNews.php?newsId=690 ''President Elbegdorj's speech at Jogorku Kenesh - the Parliament of Kyrgyzstan''] Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. 3 April 2012, Retrieved 1 February 2023;
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?list=UUWP5QwG2MYj0GFQI6OvWzuw&v=HpIvYHxVIQU ''Elbegdorj:From BIG Government to SMART Government''] Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. 16 November 2013. Retrieved 1 February 2023;
* [https://media.un.org/en/asset/k1l/k1lr9r0tfa ''Mongolia's President Elbegdorj at the General debate of the 67th Session of the General Assembly''] United Nations. 27 September 2012. Retrieved 1 February 2023;
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20160623142613/http://www.president.mn/eng/newsCenter/viewNews.php?newsId=1753 ''Elbegdorj's speech at the Leaders Event of the 21st Session of the Conference of Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change'']. Paris, France. 30 November 2015. Retrieved 1 February 2023;
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20121007122155/http://www.unrol.org/files/Statement%20by%20Mongolia.pdf ''President Elbegdorj's statement at the United Nations General Assembly's High-Level Meeting on the Rule of Law''] United Nations. 24 September 2012. Retrieved 1 February 2023.

=== Websites ===
{{Commons category|Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj}}
* [http://www.elbegdorj.mn/ www.elbegdorj.mn]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20130725095549/http://www.president.mn/eng/ President Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj] ''official website of the Office of the President of Mongolia''

{{s-start}}
{{s-off}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Mendsaikhany Enkhsaikhan]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Prime Minister of Mongolia]]|years=1998}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Janlavyn Narantsatsralt]]}}
{{s-break}}
{{s-bef|rows=2|before=[[Nambaryn Enkhbayar]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Prime Minister of Mongolia]]|years=2004–2006}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Miyeegombyn Enkhbold]]}}
{{s-break}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[President of Mongolia]]|years=2009–2017}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Battulga Khaltmaa]]}}
{{s-end}}

{{Heads of state of Mongolia}}
{{Prime Ministers of Mongolia}}
{{The Elders}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Elbegdorj, Tsakhiagiin}}
[[Category:1963 births]]
[[Category:Anti–death penalty activists]]
[[Category:Democratic Party (Mongolia) politicians]]
[[Category:Harvard Kennedy School alumni]]
[[Category:University of Colorado Boulder alumni]]
[[Category:Hetman Petro Sahaidachnyi National Ground Forces Academy alumni]]
[[Category:Lviv Polytechnic alumni]]
[[Category:Members of the State Great Khural]]
[[Category:Mongolian expatriates in the Soviet Union]]
[[Category:Mongolian expatriates in the United States]]
[[Category:Mongolian revolutionaries]]
[[Category:Mongolian anti-communists]]
[[Category:21st-century Mongolian politicians]]
[[Category:Presidents of Mongolia]]
[[Category:Prime ministers of Mongolia]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise, 1st class]]
[[Category:Mongolian journalists]]
[[Category:20th-century Mongolian writers]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Erdenet]]
[[Category:Politicians from Ulaanbaatar]]
[[Category:The Elders (organization)]]