The Governing Council of the Inter-Parliamentary Union,

Referring to the case of Mr. Zorig Sanjasuuren, a member of the State Great Hural of Mongolia who was murdered in October 1998, as outlined in the report of the Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians (CL/183/12(b)-R.1), and to the resolution adopted at its 182nd session (April 2008),

Taking account of a communication from the Executive Committee of the Mongolian Inter-Parliamentary Group, dated 7 October 2008, and of information provided by the Japanese House of Representatives and by one of the sources,

Recalling that, during an on-site visit to Mongolia by the Committee in August 2001, the Mongolian investigative authorities stated that technical assistance with some aspects of the investigation into Mr. Zorig's murder would help them to make progress; in August 2007, the then Prime Minister of Mongolia sent an official request for technical and other assistance to the Governments of Germany and Japan,

Considering that, following a favourable answer by the German Chancellor, technical assistance is being provided by the German authorities, who have inter alia conducted an analysis of certain pieces of evidence; that the Mongolian authorities have now to ascertain whether such expertise can be used as evidence under Mongolian criminal procedure; considering further that the Japanese Government has not as yet responded to the request for technical assistance since it has so far not received a request in due form,

Noting finally that elections took place in Mongolia in June 2008 and that it is envisaged that the Subcommittee of the Standing Committee on Legal Affairs will re-establish a working group to follow the investigation into Mr. Zorig's murder,

1. Thanks the Mongolian Inter-Parliamentary Group for its cooperation; looks forward to receiving confirmation of the establishment by the Standing Committee on Legal Affairs and its Subcommittee on Human Rights of a working group regarding the Zorig case, thus pursuing efforts by the previous legislature to help elucidate this case;

2. Is pleased to note that the German offer to provide technical assistance has materialized, and looks forward to receiving further information as the investigation advances; hopes that the new Mongolian Government will vigorously pursue efforts to elucidate this case, inter alia by pursuing efforts to obtain technical assistance from those States, in particular Japan, to which a request was already addressed a year ago;

3. Requests the Committee to keep itself informed of any developments in this case and to report to it at its next session, to be held on the occasion of the 120th Assembly of the IPU (April 2009).

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