Morgan Tsvangirai vs Yulia Tymoshenko

Tsvangirai founded the MDC as a trade union-backed opposition party to challenge Robert Mugabe's ZANU-PF. The party quickly became the main opposition in Zimbabwe.

Tsvangirai won the first round of the presidential election with 47.9% of the vote against Mugabe's 43.2%. However, he withdrew from the runoff due to widespread violence against his supporters.

Tsvangirai became Prime Minister in a power-sharing government with Robert Mugabe, following the disputed 2008 election. The Government of National Unity aimed to resolve the political and economic crisis.

Tsvangirai lost the presidential election to Robert Mugabe, receiving 34% of the vote against Mugabe's 61%. The MDC alleged widespread fraud, but the result was upheld by the courts.

Tsvangirai died of colon cancer at the age of 65. His death was a major blow to the opposition movement in Zimbabwe, leaving a leadership vacuum in the MDC.

Tymoshenko became Prime Minister of Ukraine after the Orange Revolution, serving under President Viktor Yushchenko. Her government focused on reversing privatization deals from the Kuchma era and increasing social spending.

Tymoshenko negotiated a gas supply agreement with Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, ending a dispute that had cut off gas to Europe. The deal set prices for Ukrainian gas imports but was later criticized as unfavorable to Ukraine.

Tymoshenko was convicted of abuse of office over the 2009 gas deal and sentenced to seven years in prison. The trial was widely condemned as politically motivated by the Yanukovych government. Her imprisonment sparked international outcry.

Tymoshenko was released from prison following the Euromaidan protests and the ousting of President Yanukovych. She was freed by a vote of the Ukrainian parliament and immediately flew to Kyiv to address the protesters.