Robert Kocharyan vs Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya

Kocharyan was a key military and political leader during the First Nagorno-Karabakh War. He served as the chairman of the State Defense Committee of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, overseeing the defense of the region against Azerbaijani forces.

Kocharyan was appointed Prime Minister by President Ter-Petrosyan. He had previously been the de facto leader of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, and his appointment was part of a power-sharing arrangement to integrate Karabakh leaders into Armenian politics.

As Prime Minister, Kocharyan signed the Treaty of Moscow, a friendship and cooperation agreement with Russia. This treaty strengthened military and economic ties between Armenia and Russia, including the extension of the Russian military base in Armenia.

Kocharyan won the presidential election with 59% of the vote, succeeding Levon Ter-Petrosyan. He was the first president of Armenia to come from Nagorno-Karabakh, a disputed region, and his election was controversial due to allegations of fraud.

Kocharyan was arrested on charges related to the 2008 post-election crackdown, accused of overthrowing the constitutional order. He was released on bail multiple times, and the case became a major political issue in Armenia, with supporters calling it politically motivated.

Tsikhanouskaya registered as a candidate for the Belarusian presidential election after her husband Sergei was jailed. She ran against Alexander Lukashenko, drawing large crowds at rallies. The election was widely condemned as fraudulent.

After the disputed election, Tsikhanouskaya fled to Lithuania under pressure from Belarusian authorities. She continued to lead the opposition from exile, coordinating protests and international pressure against Lukashenko's government.

Tsikhanouskaya met with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and other Western leaders, seeking support for democratic transition in Belarus. She was recognized by many Western governments as the legitimate winner of the 2020 election.