The president of Mongolia, Tsakhia Elbegdorj, has announced a moratorium on the death penalty and called on his country’s parliament to abolish it, saying the punishment degrades the country’s dignity where death is concerned. “Mongolia is a dignified country. . . and our citizens are dignified people”, he said 14 January in a speech to parliament.

Amnesty International, which campaigns against the death penalty, says that Mongolia is believed to have executed three people in 2009. Death row conditions are believed to be poor, and the procedure is shrouded in secrecy and a lack of transparency. Families are not notified in advance of the execution and the bodies are not turned over to the families, according to Amnesty.

Other links: Amnesty International, BBC, China Daily, Independent Online

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