[1] At the time of abolition, five crimes on Mongolian statute books were punishable by the death penalty: "terrorist acts committed for political purposes; terrorist acts against representatives of a foreign State for political purposes; sabotage; premeditated murder committed with aggravating circumstances; and rape with aggravating circumstances".
He stated that most countries in the world had abolished the death penalty, and that Mongolia should follow their example; he suggested that it be replaced with a 30-year prison sentence.
The decision was controversial; when Elbegdorj announced it in Parliament, a significant number of representatives chose not to give the applause customarily due after a presidential speech.
[2] Elbegdorj won the 2013 presidential election on 26 June 2013[8][9] and was in office until succeeded on 10 July 2017 by Khaltmaagiin Battulga, who has sought to reintroduce the death penalty to Mongolia.
After two years under the official moratorium, the State Great Khural formally signed the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.