Since the Covid-19 pandemic started spreading globally in January, over 67,000 Mongolian nationals have been repatriated from 44 countries. The country of just over 3 million, is one of the world leaders for repatriation of its citizens. At present, another 10,000 Mongolians have officially submitted their requests to return home from 55 countries. Mongolia is conducting evacuation flights to the maximum of its ability, but these are constrained by its capacity of receiving and isolating people suspected with the virus. But still, some Mongolians stranded in foreign countries have been vocal in complaining about being unable to get a seat on an evacuation plane.

On Tuesday (21 July), Mongolia repatriated 260 its nationals from Japan with a MIAT-chartered aircraft. However, a Mongolian couple organized their own demonstration;  at the top of the steps to the aircraft they displayed placards saying ‘Please open Mongolia’s border to its nationals’ and  ‘The Mongolian people are its treasure’.