Sanjaasürengiin Zorig

Sanjaasürengiin Zorig (Mongolian: Санжаасүрэнгийн Зориг, born 1962, murdered October 2nd, 1998) was a prominent Mongolian politician and leader of the country's 1990 democratic revolution. His murder remains unsolved. After his death, his sister Oyuun entered politics and founded the Civic Will Party.

Early life

From 1970 on, Zorig attended middle school Nr. 23 in Ulaanbaatar, one of the city's Russian-language schools. From 1980 to 1985 he studied philosophy at Moscow's Lomonosov University. Afterwards, he worked for a year as an instructor for the Mongolian Revolutionary Youth League in Ulaanbaatar, and in 1986 became lecturer for scientific communism at the Mongolian State University.

The 1990s

In 1989 and 1990, S. Zorig played a leading role in the events that led to Mongolia's adoption of a multi-party system. In June 1990, he was elected into the People's Great Khural. He was elected into the State Great Khural both in 1992 and 1996. In 1990, he served as Mongolia's minister for infrastructure.

Murder

Zorig was murdered in his apartment on October 2nd, 1998. His murder and its background remain completely unsolved. A monument for him has been erected in Ulaanbaatar, and the political party founded by his sister Oyuun, Irgenii Zorig Nam or Civic Will Party, bears a reference to his name.

Family

Zorig's mother, Dorjpalam, is famous her role as doctor in a well-known Mongolian movie. Dorjpalam's father was the Russian geographer and scientist Simukov, who fell victim to Mongolia's political purges of the 1930s. His father Sanjaasüren was the dean of the Mongolian State University and also has served as deputy minister of education. His sister Oyuun entered politics after Zorig's murder and is currently serving as Mongolia's minister of foreign affairs.

References

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