Abul Kalam Azad vs Viktor Yanukovych

Abul Kalam Azad was elected President of the Indian National Congress, a position he held until 1946. He led the party through the Quit India Movement and negotiations with the British for Indian independence.

Azad strongly opposed the partition of India along religious lines, arguing for a united secular nation. He wrote letters and gave speeches warning against the division, but was overruled by the Congress leadership.

Azad became India's first Minister of Education in Jawaharlal Nehru's cabinet. He established the University Grants Commission, promoted scientific education, and laid the foundation for the Indian education system.

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.