Charles Taylor vs Levon Ter-Petrosyan

Charles Taylor formed the NPFL in Ivory Coast and launched an invasion into Liberia, beginning the First Liberian Civil War. The NPFL quickly gained control of much of the country, challenging Samuel Doe's government.

Taylor won the 1997 Liberian general election with 75% of the vote, running on a platform of peace and reconciliation. The election was held after the end of the First Civil War, but Taylor's victory was widely seen as a choice between him and a return to war.

The Special Court for Sierra Leone (SCSL) indicted Taylor for war crimes and crimes against humanity for his role in supporting the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) in Sierra Leone's civil war. The indictment marked the first time a sitting African head of state was charged with such crimes.

Under international pressure and facing a rebel siege of Monrovia, Taylor resigned the presidency and went into exile in Nigeria. His departure ended the Second Liberian Civil War and allowed for a peace agreement.

The Special Court for Sierra Leone convicted Taylor of 11 counts of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and other serious violations of international humanitarian law. He was sentenced to 50 years in prison, the first former head of state convicted since Nuremberg.

Ter-Petrosyan was arrested by Soviet authorities for his role in organizing protests over the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. He was imprisoned for several months, which increased his popularity among Armenian nationalists and positioned him as a leader of the independence movement.

Ter-Petrosyan co-founded the Armenian National Movement (ANM), a political party that advocated for Armenian independence from the Soviet Union. The ANM became the leading force in the independence movement and later formed the first post-Soviet government.

Levon Ter-Petrosyan was elected the first President of independent Armenia after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, winning 83% of the vote. He led the country through its early years of independence, establishing state institutions and navigating the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Ter-Petrosyan led Armenia during the First Nagorno-Karabakh War against Azerbaijan. Under his leadership, Armenian forces gained control of Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding territories, though the war resulted in significant casualties and displacement on both sides.

Ter-Petrosyan resigned as president after facing widespread protests and opposition from key allies over his proposal to compromise on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. His resignation marked a major political shift, leading to the election of Robert Kocharyan.