Mongolian media agencies have protested against the Defamation Law after MP Ts.Garamjav proposed to increase the amount of the fine, which was accepted during a Parliamentary Standing Committee meeting.

A total of 16 TV Channels – all members of the Mongolian Broadcasting Union –  began the protest in the form of a black-out from 8 p.m to 9 p.m on Wednesday (26^th of April). For one hour, major TV channels did not air any program but sent a warning with a text that read ‘Your right to get information is under threat’. Today (27^th of April), national newspapers joined the protest by putting this message on their front pages; some news websites have joined the protest as well.

The clause in question concerns defamation, and imposes MNT 2 million fines on an individual for defamation of character on social and mass media and MNT 20 million on a legal entity. However, MP Ts.Garamjav suggested that the amount of fine should be increased five times, making it MNT 10 million for a person and MNT 100 million for a legal entity. The Parliamentary Standing Committee members gave a nod to the suggestion.

As such, around 10 PM on 26^th April, Wednesday, Member of Parliament Ts.Garamjav made a statement, announcing the withdrawal of her proposition.