The document details an investigative report by journalist Lkhagva Erdene on the controversial sale of Mongolia's Erdenet mine, which was sold without public disclosure or legislative approval. Erdene faced numerous challenges including government control of media, threats from implicated politicians, and a lack of resources among local journalists. Following the investigation, findings revealed unconstitutional actions involving offshore companies and prompted a call for a special working group to investigate the $400 million deal that negatively impacted the Mongolian currency.

1. INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING
Case Study :
The Mysterious Sales of Mongolia’s Erdenet Mine
By: Lkhagva Erdene
An investigative Journalist with Mongol TV in
Mongolia

2. Reasons for the Investigation
 To find out who bought the 49% share of the Copper mine in
Mongolia that was announced over the radio on June 28th,
2016 by the Prime Minsiter-Saikhanbileg Chimed.
 Give Justice to the people of Mongolia

3. How did the story developed?
 The story developed when the Prime Minister for Mongolia
announced the sale of Erdent Mine on Media but little
information was given to the sale of mine.
 Reached out to his network and emailed International
Consortium of Investigative Journalists Director (ICIJ)to
have access to information.

4. How did he tackled the story as a
Journalist?
 Called sources from Erdenet city to Moscow to understand
and create the hypothesis that could be possible to the story.
 Quickly went over the relevant laws and processes to find out
how the deal was negotiated,
 The story was far from the public’s attention scope so they
ran a different course from most investigative journalists and
put the topic at the heart of the public debate.

5. What difficulties did he encounter?
 Due to television viewership trends ,the investigations
program such as debate was on hold during the months of
Summer because there were less viewers
 Journalist from Mogalio were not paid enough and they did
not care about doing such big investigations because they did
not want to risk their life.
 The government owned the media and free access to
information was difficult.
 Implicated politicians and their party supporters condemned
the reports, threatened to take them to court.

6. What happened after the story was
published ?And what were some of the
findings?
FINDINGS
 The collaboration allowed them to find paper trails and messages and
showed it to the Mongolian public that politicians did use offshore
companies and had interests in assets held outside the country.
 $400 million sale by state-owned Russian holding company Rostec to
little-known Mongolian Copper Corp (MCC) was unconstitutional as it
was agreed without lawmakers' approval.
 Sale violated financing laws because of the involvement of multiple
shell corporations controlled by Mongolia's largest private lender,
Trade and Development Bank (TDB), and its staff.
 During the debate, independent journalist Jargal Dambadarjaa
revealed the government letter which gave green light for buyer to
engage in purchasing agreement with Rostec

7. RESULT or FEEDBACK
 The story shed light on a 400 million dollar
deal which crashed the Mongolian currency
in August, 2016.
 The new cabinet and President of Mongolia
called for special working group to
investigate this deal.
 The working group and the government of
Mongolia is awkwardly staying silent to this
day.

8. Reference
 A Revival of the Mongolian-Russian Friendship?
Publication: Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 13 Issue: 135
By: Alicia J. Campi
July 26, 2016 10:10 PM Age: 8 months
https://jamestown.org/program/a-revival-of-the-mongolian-russian-friendship/
 Mongolia votes to nationalise former Russian copper mine stake
http://uk.reuters.com/article/mongolia-copper-idUKL4N1G0259
https://panamapapers.icij.org/blog/20160808-mongolia-politicians.html
 The Mysterious Sale of Mongolia's Erdenet Mine
http://thediplomat.com/2016/07/the-mysterious-sale-of-mongolias-erdenet-mine/
http://www.investigative-manual.org/the-mysterious-sales-of-mongolias-erdenet-
mine/?lang=en

9. THANK YOU!
