Serial demonstrations, mass movements

Months of fuel shortages and rising prices have fueled public frustration in Mongolia, prompting hundreds of people to gather at Sukhbaatar Square in the capital, Ulaanbaatar, on Oct. 1 to protest. Cars lined both the eastern and western sides of Sukhbaatar Square as drivers stepped out of their vehicles and stood still in protest. Some repeatedly sounded their horns to express their anger.
The demonstration drew not only drivers but also students, elderly people and representatives of different age groups.
Participants voiced a wide range of grievances. While the fuel shortage was the immediate trigger, many protesters also expressed concern over taxes, rising food prices, increases in electricity, heating and water tariffs, declining household incomes and what they described as excessive government spending. Some demonstrators said the fuel shortage could partly be explained by the international situation, but argued that external factors alone could not justify the current crisis.
Since the shortages began, many drivers have spent nights sleeping in their vehicles or waiting in long queues at filling stations. Others said they had been forced to buy fuel at inflated prices from resellers. Although the government has repeatedly said it is taking all necessary measures to address the situation, prices of everyday consumer goods have continued to rise, while inflation has placed increasing pressure on household finances.