Yumjaagiin Tsedenbal

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Yumjaagiin Tsedenbal (Mongolian: Юмжаагийн Цэдэнбал; 1916 - 1991) was one of the leaders of Mongolia from the 1940s to 1984. During his political life, he served as prime minister and general secretary of the Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party.

After taking over premiership in 1952 with Marshal Khorloogiin Choibalsan's death, Tsedenbal successfully purged his political rivals: Dashiin Damba in 1958-59,Daramyn Tumur-Ochir in 1962, Luvsantserengiin Tsend in 1963, and the so-called Lookhuuz-Nyambuu-Surmaayav "anti-party group" in December 1964. He held this office until 1974-06-11, when he became head of state.

His foreign policy was marked by efforts to bring Mongolia into ever closer cooperation with the USSR, though he ostensibly opposed plans to turn Mongolia into a Soviet republic. At the time of the Sino-Soviet split, Tsedenbal decisively sided with the Soviet Union and incurred China's wrath. In Mongolia Tsedenbal is remembered for successfully maintaining a path of moderate socialism during the Cold War.

Tsedenbal was forced into retirement in August 1984 in a Soviet-sponsored move, allegedly on the account of his old age and mental weakness. Jambyn Batmönkh became the general secretary of the MPRP. Tsedenbal remained in Moscow until his death; his body was brought to Mongolia, where it was buried.

He was married to a Russian woman Anastasia Ivanovna Filatova (Анастасия Ивановна Филатова), who was believed to be the most powerful political figure in Mongolia due to her close relationship with the Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev.

Preceded by
Khorloogiin Choibalsan
Prime Minister of Mongolia
January 26, 1952 - June 11, 1974
Succeeded by
Jambyn Batmönkh
Preceded by
Sonomyn Luvsan
President of Mongolia
June 11, 1974 -

August 8, 1984

Succeeded by
Nyamyn Jagvaral
Persondata
NAME Yumjaagiin Tsedenbal
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Tsedenbal; Юмжаагийн Цэдэнбал (mongolian)
SHORT DESCRIPTION Prime Minister of Mongolia from January 26, 1952 to June 11, 1974 and President of Mongolia from June 11, 1974 to August 8, 1984.
DATE OF BIRTH 1916
PLACE OF BIRTH Mongolia
DATE OF DEATH 1991
PLACE OF DEATH Moscow, USSR