Khaltmaagiin Battulga

Since his assumption to office, 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. On 27 March 2019, the State Great Khural began a constitutional crisis when it adopted an unprecedented law which gave the National Security Council of Mongolia the power to recommend the dismissal of judges and prosecutors, as well as the head of the national anti-corruption service. Battulga's political party, which is the opposition's main minority faction in the parliament, claims that the law undermines the country's constitutional separation of powers and the larger Mongolian democratic system.

Battulga is largely seen as a pro-Russian politician and a Russophile due to his Russian ties and his knowledge of the Russian language. He is commonly compared to Russian President Vladimir Putin due to their shared love and experience in the Judo sport. When speaking on this fact to Putin during a summit in Eastern Russia in September 2017, Putin said that the shared sport will help "develop a good working and personal relationship." On 14 June 2018, after the conclusion of the Singapore Summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and U.S. President Donald Trump, Battulga congratulated both leaders, telling Chairman Kim that he considers the summit as a "landmark event not only for the North Korea–United States relations, but for the Northeast Asian region and the Korean Peninsula". Battulga was widely expected to host the summit as the Mongolian head of state due to the fact that the country in recent years has sponsored many regional summits and is easily accessible by train from Pyongyang, North Korea. Days after the summit, Battulga invited Kim to Ulan Bator for a state visit in honor of the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations. Earlier in mid-March, Battulga in a telegram to Trump appeals to him to advance trade relations, saying that although Mongolia is an "oasis of democracy", it "does not contribute to economic development". During a visit to Kyrgyzstan in June 2019, he opened the Mongolian Embassy in Bishkek.

The inauguration of Battulga took place at the State Palace on 10 July 2017 in the presence of Prime Minister Jargaltulga Erdenebat and former president Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj. He took the oath of office In traditional Mongolian nomadic dress. In his presidential address, he laid out the principles for his term, including one for the industrialization of the country. He also said that he will 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. At the conclusion of the ceremony, he went outside to lay wreaths at the monuments to Damdin Sükhbaatar and Chinggis Khaan. He also received state heraldry, including the state stamp and the presidential certificate.

Battulga was instrumental in background coordination for preparation work and ultimate signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation between Governments of Mongolia and Japan during official visit of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in 22 October 2015. This memorandum expresses intention of Japan to invest in the construction of railway infrastructure from Tavan Tolgoi coal mine to Sainshand railway line connecting it to the Trans-Mongolian Railway Network and providing access to Chinese and Russian seaports. Furthermore, plans have been made for Chinese, Russian and Japanese investments in financing the railway in exchange of coking coal sourcing from Mongolia. Investment blueprint and roadmap was agreed with the Japanese government, Japan Bank for International Cooperation and Japanese major trading companies.

On 3 November 2012, the Government of Mongolia announced that it resolved to build 1,800 km railway infrastructure integrating Phase 1 and 2 of the Railway Policy. Stakeholders such as Hong Kong listed Mongolian Mining Corporation greeted such government policy in its press release stating that the policy is particularly beneficial for Mongolian coal exporters.

Battulga is also the President of Mongolian Judo Association. Under his guidance, Mongolian judoka Tuvshinbayar Naidan became an Olympic Judo Champion in Beijing 2008 and many other successful judokas have become national heroes. Thanks to these successes judo has become one of the most popular sports in Mongolia.

In 2004, Battulga became a Member of Parliament for the first time from Bayankhongor province. He was re-elected to parliament in 2008 and 2012, Sidley Austin LLP, Taylor Wessing. As a result, many international companies have expressed their interest to invest, provide technologies and construction services, such as Air Liquide (France), Baotou Steel (China), Dandong Port (China), Overseas Infrastructure Alliance (India), OAO Russian Railways (Russia), Rao UES (Russia), Sembcorp (Singapore), Sinohydro (China), Steel Authority of India Limited (India), among many others.

Genco acquired controlling interests during the privatization of state-owned assets such as Bayangol Hotel and meat-processing factory Makh-Impex in 1997 and 1999 respectively. In the 1990s Genco group started one of the first taxi businesses in Mongolia called City Taxi, retail store operations under Sapporo name, lottery business, restaurant and night club operations, flour milling and bread making factory Talkh Chikher LLC.

In 1990, Battulga started sewing and selling jeans locally and in Hungary. This allowed him to make $600, sufficient to buy a video camera and to start an export-import business trading electronics from Singapore to Mongolia, Russia and Eastern Europe.

His father was a coach of Mongolian traditional wrestling and thus Battulga grew up wrestling. Battulga was a member of the Mongolian National wrestling team in 1979-1990. Battulga won the world cup championship in Ulaanbaatar in 1989. Wrestling allowed Battulga to travel internationally at a period, when travel abroad for Mongolians was not allowed. Battulga was awarded an Merited Sportsmen of Mongolia in 1995, thereafter being selected as the Chairman of Mongolian Judo Federation in 2006. Under Battulga's leadership at the Judo Federation, Mongolian judokas became Olympic Champions for the first time in history.

Battulga is a second child. His father and mother are both from Bayankhongor Province. The family was allocated a traditional ger in Yarmag ger district in Ulaanbaatar after they lost everything in the flood of Tuul River in 1966. Battulga grew up in the streets of Yarmag and went to a local secondary school. When he graduated from 8th grade, his teacher recommended that he apply to an arts school given his talents. Battulga graduated in 1982. While studying at the Arts School, Battulga sold his paintings to tourists around Bayangol Hotel area, learning sufficient English to help sell his artwork.

Khaltmaagiin Battulga (Mongolian: Халтмаагийн Баттулга , Khaltmaagiin Battulga, [xɑɮtʰ.maː.ɡiːŋ ˈbɑtʰ.tʰʊ.ɮɐɢ] , born 3 March 1963) is a Mongolian politician and Sambo wrestler who has served as the President of Mongolia since 10 July 2017. He 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. Prior to his career in politics, Battulga was a Sambo wrestling champion. He was the Democratic Party's candidate in the 2017 presidential election, and was elected President with 50.6% in the run-off, the first ever run-off election in modern Mongolian history. Mongolians are sharply divided about his role in the 2019 Mongolian constitutional crisis.