Civilians who applied for an apartment in the 100 Thousand Apartments Project launched by the former Government are demonstrating at Sukhbaatar Square against the new Government’s decision to halt the project. Protesters who attempted to build gers at the square encountered police resistance. Currently there are over 20 protesters at the square holding slogans and placards.

The launch of the 100 Thousand Apartments Project, which was designed to provide some low- and middle-income citizens with low interest apartments, by former Government in 2012 was a big sensation. But a year later the project has been halted by the new government due to financial difficulties. During this period only a thousand citizens were granted the lower interest loans for apartments. This leaves thousands of citizens who applied for the loan to buy an apartment who have sold their gers and yards and yet have no homes during this period.

The new Government halted the 100 Thousand Apartments Project in order to launch another program.

The Vice President of the Apartment Finance Corporation, D.Oyunjargal, commented that “the 100 Thousand Apartments Project caused the apartment prices to increase. It was once the case that one million MNT was enough to build an apartment per square meter. Not it is now, so this was the reason behind the halting of the project.”

But the victims of the failed project are claiming compensation from the Government for their loss. The protesters are planning a two day sit-in strike. If there are no measures forthcoming they will call a hunger strike on the third day.