1. Khaltmaagiin Battulga, referred to as Battulga Khaltmaa, is a Mongolian politician and sambo wrestler who served as the 5th President of Mongolia from 2017 to 2021.
28 Facts About Khaltmaagiin Battulga
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Khaltmaagiin Battulga served as Member of the State Great Khural from 2004 to 2016 and Minister of Roads, Transportation, Construction and Urban Development from 2008 to 2012.
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Khaltmaagiin Battulga was elected as a Member of the State Great Khural for the fourth time in the 2024 parliamentary election.
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In 1990, Khaltmaagiin Battulga started sewing and selling jeans locally and in Hungary.
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Khaltmaagiin Battulga saved $600 to buy a video camera and start an export-import business trading electronics from Singapore to Mongolia, Russia, and Eastern Europe.
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Khaltmaagiin Battulga was fascinated with The Godfather and named his first company Genco, the name of the olive oil importing company in the film.
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Khaltmaagiin Battulga grew up practicing Mongolian traditional wrestling, as his father Khaltmaa was a coach.
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Khaltmaagiin Battulga later transitioned to sambo wrestling and represented the Mongolian People's Republic in international competition from 1983 to 1990.
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Khaltmaagiin Battulga won gold at the 1983 World Championships and 1989 World Cup, along with several other medals at the World Championships, World Cup, and Friendship Games.
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Khaltmaagiin Battulga was awarded a Merited Sportsmen of Mongolia in 1995, and became Chairman of the Mongolian Judo Federation in 2006.
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In 2004, Khaltmaagiin Battulga became a Member of Parliament for Bayankhongor province for the first time.
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Khaltmaagiin Battulga was re-elected to parliament in 2008,2012, and 2024.
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Khaltmaagiin Battulga ran against former Prime Minister Miyeegombyn Enkhbold of the Mongolian People's Party.
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Khaltmaagiin Battulga's inauguration took place at the State Palace on 10 July 2017 in the presence of Prime Minister Jargaltulgyn Erdenebat and former president Elbegdorj.
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Khaltmaagiin Battulga said that he would work to maintain and expand the good-neighbor relations with Russia and China and will "pay utmost attention" to the third neighbor policy, referring to the United States.
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Khaltmaagiin Battulga received state heraldry, including the state stamp and the presidential certificate.
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Since he became president, Khaltmaagiin Battulga has made it standard practice for people to put their hand on their heart during the performance of the national anthem of Mongolia by a concert or military band, as well as a vocal performance.
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Khaltmaagiin Battulga is largely seen as a pro-Russian politician and a Russophile due to his Russian ties and his knowledge of the Russian language.
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Khaltmaagiin Battulga is commonly compared to Russian President Vladimir Putin due to their shared love and experience in judo.
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Khaltmaagiin Battulga has in recent years criticized the Mongolian economy's dependence on China.
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Khaltmaagiin Battulga was widely expected to host the summit as the Mongolian head of state due to the fact that the country has sponsored many regional summits in recent years and is easily accessible by train from Pyongyang, North Korea.
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Days after the summit, Khaltmaagiin Battulga invited Kim to Ulan Bator for a state visit in honor of the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations.
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In mid-March 2018, Khaltmaagiin Battulga appealed to US President Trump via telegram to more trade relations, saying an economic downturn threatened to destabilize Mongolia, and that although Mongolia is an "oasis of democracy", this "does not contribute to economic development" in a region where authoritarianism is on the rise.
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The United States is one of Mongolia's so-called Third Neighbors, which Khaltmaagiin Battulga said that US trade and investment could help prevent the return of authoritarian in Mongolia.
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Khaltmaagiin Battulga is currently a father to two sets of twin sons and one daughter.
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John Bolton wrote in his book The Room Where It Happened that President Khaltmaagiin Battulga's son served in Afghanistan for a US-led multinational force.
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In 2017, newly-elected Khaltmaagiin Battulga has said that he intended to live in the "Winter Palace" in central Ulaanbaatar, known as the Marshal's Residence, in a departure from tradition.
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Khaltmaagiin Battulga sponsored the construction of the Chingis Khan Equestrian Statue near Ulaanbaatar to celebrate national pride.