First trial held for Mongolia’s security chief

B. Ooluun

On November 15, the first regular primary court trial was held in the Magistrate Court of Westminster, London for the arrest of B. Khurts, Chief of the Office of the National Security Council of Mongolia.
On September 17, B. Khurts was arrested by detectives of a British legal organization armed with an international warrant for his arrest when he stepped off an Aeroflot flight into Heathrow Airport to meet with British national security officials. It was explained that he is being accused of conducting illegal executive works by abducting a person from France through territories of Belgium and Germany in 2003. The British side detained him according to a 2006 request by the German side to detain B. Khurts if he travels through any EU countries and expedite him to German legal authorities. 
Mongolia’s attorney Alan Jones provided evidences of witnesses and made explanations based on international law in order not to extradite B. Khurts to the German side. As the chief of the judges said, it is necessary to consider the grounds in detail, the next trial is scheduled for January 5, 2011, reported the Public Relations Office of the Foreign Affairs Ministry. D. Tsogtbaatar, State Secretary of Foreign Affairs Ministry, G. Bayasgalan, State Secretary of Justice and Internal Affairs Ministry, Ts. Bolor, Special Duty Ambassador, B. Altangerel, Mongolia’s Ambassador to UK, and N. Bataa, Consul and advisor to the Embassy, attended the trial. Also two legal advisors from the British Foreign Affairs and Commonwealth Ministry were
present at the trial.
Information about the trial is the focus of Mongolia’s media. Daily newspapers report the  issues of B. Khurts and the process of his trial. 
Undesnii Shuudan and Onoodor dailies interviewed deputy Foreign Minister B. Bolor about the trial.
B. Bolor, who heads the Working Group set up by the government for B. Khurts’s issue said, “There has not been any decision at the primary stage of court to expedite B. Khurts to the German side. 
Also, judges adjourned the trial as they accepted the grounds we submitted. Therefore, I think this trial did have not bad result.” During the trial, the Mongolian side spoke that B. Khurts arrived in the UK for an official visit; therefore, he is entitled to diplomatic immunity and requested to accurately scrutinize whether B. Khurts’ arrest is meeting with international law approved by the UN.
Recently the Government of Mongolia made an official apology to France and Germany on the matter of making a mistake while conducting activity in their territories. The French side accepted Mongolia’s request and dismissed this case, but Germany did not give a reply. The Mongolian side frequently offers B. Khurts’ bail, but with no positive answer.
source: 'The Mongol Messenger'newspaper

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