Hoover Institution (Stanford, CA) — Elbegdorj Tsakhia, former president and prime minister of Mongolia, has joined the Hoover Institution as a distinguished visiting fellow. His appointment is effective April 1, 2025, through March 2028.
A champion of human rights and democracy around the world, Tsakhia will bring unique insights to Hoover from his many years ushering Mongolia, a middle-income nation of 3.5 million inhabitants nestled between Russia and China, out of Communism and into the global community of democracies.
Born in Zereg, Khovd Province, Elbegdorj grew up in a nomadic herding family and later trained as a journalist at the Lviv Military-Political Institute in Ukraine. His political career began in the early 1990s when he emerged as “Ebi,” the leader of Mongolia’s peaceful democratic revolution and one of the drafters of the country’s democratic constitution. He helped dismantle the Communist regime and establish Mongolia as a democratic, plural, open country.
Elbegdorj served two terms as prime minister of Mongolia (1998 and 2004–6) before being elected president in 2009 and re-elected in 2013. As president, he championed democratic reforms, transparency, and human rights, including abolishment of the death penalty, making Mongolia a global leader in human rights advocacy. Under his leadership, Mongolia strengthened its diplomatic ties with major powers while maintaining a balanced foreign policy rooted in the “third neighbor” strategy and preserving Mongolia’s sovereignty between China and Russia.
“I am honored to join the Hoover Institution as a distinguished visiting fellow, where I look forward to engaging in meaningful discussions on democracy, governance, and global security,” said President Elbegdorj. “Mongolia’s journey has shown both the promise and the challenges of democratic resilience, and I hope to share these insights while learning from global perspectives. At a time of growing uncertainty, strengthening democratic institutions, fostering good governance, and advancing security cooperation are more important than ever. I look forward to contributing to Hoover’s vital work in shaping policies that promote stability, freedom, and human rights.”
As an advocate for freedom and democracy, Elbegdorj has engaged with global institutions such as the United Nations, the Munich Security Conference, and the Club de Madrid, where he continues to contribute to global governance and conflict resolution. He is also a member of The Elders, a group founded by Nelson Mandela to promote peace and human rights worldwide.
He was previously a Bernard and Susan Liautaud Visiting Fellow at the Walter H. Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center within Stanford’s Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies from 2022 to 2024.
He also founded his own think tank, the Elbegdorj Institute, in 2008, to further strengthen and safeguard democratic values in Mongolia.
For coverage opportunities, contact Jeffrey Marschner, 202-760-3187, jmarsch@stanford.edu.
