Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani vs Viktor Yanukovych

Rafsanjani served as Speaker of the Parliament during the Iran-Iraq War, playing a key role in managing the war effort. He later became President in 1989, overseeing the reconstruction of Iran's economy and infrastructure after the war.

As President, Rafsanjani implemented a series of economic reforms aimed at rebuilding Iran's war-torn economy. He promoted privatization, reduced state control, and sought foreign investment, though his policies faced opposition from hardliners.

Rafsanjani supported opposition candidate Mir-Hossein Mousavi in the disputed 2009 presidential election. He criticized the government's crackdown on protesters, leading to a rift with Supreme Leader Khamenei and his marginalization from power.

Yanukovych won the presidential election, defeating Yulia Tymoshenko in a runoff. His victory was seen as a shift toward closer ties with Russia and a reversal of Orange Revolution policies.

Yanukovych abruptly suspended preparations for signing an association agreement with the European Union, opting instead for closer ties with Russia. This decision triggered the Euromaidan protests.

After months of protests and violent clashes, Yanukovych fled Kyiv for Russia. The Ukrainian parliament voted to remove him from office. His ousting led to the Russian annexation of Crimea and the war in Donbas.

Yanukovych settled in Russia, where he claimed to still be the legitimate president of Ukraine. He was tried in absentia and convicted of treason by a Ukrainian court. He remains a fugitive.