Askar Akayev, 2005 News

former president of Kyrgyzstan, fled to Russia in March, after thousands of demonstrators took over the presidential palace in Bishkek to protest parliamentary elections that were widely considered flawed. He resigned in April and was succeeded by opposition leader Kurmanbek Bakiev. Once a popular leader, Akayev's standing diminished in recent years amid accusations of nepotism and corruption.