Russia — Mongolia: A Century of Friendship and Cooperation (Celebrating the 100th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations)

Introduction. In 2021, Russia and Mongolia are celebrating the 100th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. In fact, this year is remarkable for a number of anniversaries: the 100th anniversary of the formation of the Mongolian People’s Party, the first political party in Mongolia; the 100th anniversary of the national democratic revolution; the 100th anniversary of the organization of the Mongolian People’s Revolutionary Army; the 100th anniversary of the Scientific Committee, which served as the prototype of the Mongolian Academy of Sciences; the 60th anniversary of the UN membership of Mongolian People’s Republic; and the 40th anniversary of the joint space flight of the Russian-Mongolian space crew. These anniversaries are closely related to a significant event in the history of the two countries — the Agreement between the Government of the RSFSR and the People’s Government of Mongolia on the establishment of friendly relations signed on 5 November 1921, which laid the legal basis for bilateral relations. It is certainly beyond the scope of this article to cover every significant and remarkable event and date in Soviet / Russian-Mongolian relations, but it intends to highlight the most important events in Russian-Mongolian relations in the 20th and early 21st centuries. The article aims to focus on the principal stages and most important dates and events, as well as to underline the role and relevance of the documents of key importance in the history of these relations. Materials. The study is based on archival records, published materials, and scientific literature. Conclusions. Over the past century, the relations between the countries, whose histories are full of dramatic events (revolutionary upheavals, World War II, the collapse of the Soviet Union), have seen both high and low points: friendship and special relations of allies, which changed to a certain degree of distancing from each other; then, rejection of the previous ideologized attitudes and renewal of traditional cooperation, leading to a current comprehensive strategic partnership. However, there has always been an understanding that there is a special closeness of the countries for historical, geopolitical, and cultural factors in play. A hundred years is a sufficiently long period to conclude that the key principles of Russian-Mongolian relations established by the 1921 Agreement have stood the test of time. Presently, there is a new stage to these relations based on both parties’ interests in promoting their comprehensive strategic partnership.

1. Altai D. Strategic partnership between Russia and Mongolia: Challenges of the 21st century. In: Russia — Mongolia. History, Challenges of the 21st Century, Prospects. Collected scholarly papers. Institute of Oriental Studies (RAS), Institute of History and Archaeology (Mong. Acad. of S.), Institute of Sociology (RAS). Ulaanbaatar: Admon, 2017. Pp. 15–22. (In Russ.)

2. Bashkuev V. Yu. Russian Medicine and Mongolian World: The Historical Experiences of Interaction, Late 19th – Mid 20th Centuries. L. Kuras (ed.). Irkutsk: Ottisk, 2016. 436 p. (In Russ.)

3. Bazarov B. V., Kuras L. V. Mongolia in the Second World War. Izvestiya Irkutskogo gosudarstvennogo universiteta. Seriya «Istoriya». 2015. Vol. 12. Pp. 30–39. (In Russ.)

4. Dashdavaa Ch., Kuras L. V. (eds.) Mongolia in World War II. Photo book. Irkutsk: Ottisk, 2011. 96 p. (In Russ.)

5. Golman M. I. From decline to strategic partnership: Russian-Mongolian relations, 1990–2010. Bulletin of the Buryat Scientific Center of SB RAS. 2011. No. 1. Pp. 20–26. (In Russ.)

6. Graivoronsky V. V. Russia — Mongolia: 95th anniversary of diplomatic relations, strategic partnership, new challenges. In: Russia — Mongolia. History, Challenges of the 21st Century, Prospects. Collected scholarly papers. Institute of Oriental Studies (RAS), Institute of History and Archaeology (Mong. Acad. of S.), Institute of Sociology (RAS). Ulaanbaatar: Admon, 2017. Pp. 74–82. (In Russ.)

7. Luzyanin S. G. Russia — Mongolia — China, Early to Mid-Twentieth Century: Political Relations, 1911–1946. Moscow: Institute of Far Eastern Studies (RAS), 2000. 268 p. (In Russ.)

8. Okladnikov A. P. et al. (eds.) History of the Mongolian People’s Republic. 3rd ed., rev. and suppl. Moscow: Nauka — GRVL, 1983. 661 p. (In Russ.)

9. Panin L. I., Tsedevsuren D. et al. (comps.) Soviet-Mongolian Relations, 1921–1974. Documents and materials. In 2 vols. Vol. 1: 1921–1940. Moscow, Ulaanbaatar: Mezhdunarodnye Otnosheniya, State Publ. House of Mongolia, 1975. 589 p. Vol. 2. Part 2. Moscow, Ulaanbaatar: Mezhdunarodnye Otnosheniya, State Publ. House of Mongolia, 1979. 616 p. (In Russ.)

10. Roshchin S. K. Political History of Mongolia, 1921–1940. Moscow: Institute of Oriental Studies (RAS), 1999. 327 p. (In Russ.)

11. Rybakov R. B., Khaisandai L. (eds.) Russia and Mongolia: Towards Strategic Partnership. Collective monograph. Moscow: Institute of Oriental Studies (RAS), 2011. 440 p. (In Russ.)

12. Shirendyb B. Mongolia at the Turn of the 20th Century: History of Socioeconomic Development. Ulaanbaatar: Publishing Affairs Committee, 1963. 518 p. (In Russ.)

13. The Letters of Brotherhood: Correspondence between Mongolia’s Civilians and Front Line Soldiers. Collected letters. Ulaanbaatar: State Publ. House of Mongolia, 1985. 223 p. (In Russ.)

14. Yaskina G. S. (ed.) A History of 20th Century Mongolia. Moscow: Institute of Oriental Studies (RAS), 2007. 448 p. (In Russ.)

15. Yusupova T. Yu. Mongolian Commission at the USSR Academy of Sciences: History of Creation and Activities, 1925–1957. St. Petersburg: Nestor-Istoriya, 2006. 280 p. (In Russ.)