In a statement from police officials addressed to civil movement leaders and members gathering at the Chingeltei district police headquarters, an official disclosed the order and confirmation of Baasan’s arrest, but did not release the charges on which the senior citizen is being held.

The announcement was immediately denounced by civil movements including the National Soyombo Movement led by S. Ganbaatar.

“We don’t know what is going on, and no one at the police station or the court will tell us anything. It is unacceptable,” Ganbaatar told MonInfo late Wednesday night.

"Currently Democratic Party Members of Parliament Z. Enkhbold, E. Bat-Uul and K. Battulga have expressed their support of Baasan and the civil movements and are using their special political privileges to meet with police officials." 

One civil movement member speaking in anonymity said they felt the arrest was a direct result of an upcoming public conference to be focused on analyzing current problems in the Mongolian government.

Baasan, who had been working with the Mongolian National Front, a movement unified with 8 civic movements including NGOs, was planning the All People’s Congress set for November 6-8 to be held on Sukhbaatar square before her unexpected arrest at 5pm Wednesday.

The expected participants of the congress, also in collaboration with Political newspaper and its Chief-editor G. Uyanga, have planned a protest for Thursday on Sukhbaatar square in condemnation of the actions taken by the Chingeltei district judge.

“These are false actions. No one at the court house even knows why she has been arrested,” A. Baatarkhuyag, press secretary for the Democratic Party and husband of Uyanga, said in a phone interview with MonInfo Wednesday night.

“We will protest tomorrow.”

Chingeltei district court officials were unavailable for comment after regular office hours.

(additional reporting by D. Binderiya)