Mongolia will hold a parliamentary re-election in Khentii Province after MP D.Gantulga handed his resignation letter to Speaker of Parliament M.Enkhbold on Monday amid what he called a ‘politically motivated’ rape allegation. Re-election must be held within 30 days after a parliamentary decision has been made. However, the Law on Elections stipulates that elections must be held in June or October.

D.Gantulga from the Mongolian People’s Party won his seat in the State Great Khural from the 42nd parliamentary district in June 2016. He has since been accused of raping a 25-year-old female student at her home in June, 2017. The victim’s sister first reported the alleged crime to the police. When the case was made public, Gantulga, 31, pleaded not guilty and insisted that they ‘mutually consented’ to have sexual intercourse.