10 world leaders who allegedly jailed their political opponents and critics

Politicians who imprisoned their opponents and critics include dictators and democratically elected presidents from around the world.

World leaders who imprison political opponents usually do not admit it, but organizations such as Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and even the United Nations make strong cases that these corrupt practices occur, prompting other nations to sometimes intervene. in an effort to rescue political prisoners.

Former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych

Former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych allegedly imprisoned Yulia Tyoshenko, former Prime Minister of Ukraine and presidential candidate.

In October 2011, Yanukovych's opponent in that race, Yulia Tyoshenko, was sentenced to seven years in prison on charges of "abuse of power" in connection with negotiations with Russia in 2009 over natural gas prices when she was prime minister.

Russian President Vladimir Putin

Russian President Vladimir Putin allegedly jailed Mikhail Khodorkovsky, a former oil tycoon and opposition supporter.

Oligarch Khodorkovsky was Russia's richest man before he was jailed for more than 10 years on charges of tax evasion and fraud, which he says were politically motivated.

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe allegedly jailed opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai.

Tsvangirai claims Mugabe's "regime" arrested him and other activists in 2007 for violating the law against holding political protests.

The President of the Republic of Congo, Denis Sassou Nguesso

Republic of Congo President Denis Sassou Nguesso jailed UPC ("Unis Pour le Congo") party leader Makaya who was sentenced to two years in prison in November 2015 for participating in an "unauthorized" protest against constitutional changes that would allowed President Ngeusso.

Amnesty International has declared Makaya a "prisoner of conscience" who was illegally detained by Ngeusso's government.

Former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak

Former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak allegedly jailed political opponent and runner-up in the 2005 presidential election, Ayman Nour.

Nour was sentenced to five years in prison by the Mubarak administration in 2005 - just three months after Mubarak's defeat - for allegedly forging signatures to register his party.

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni allegedly jailed opposition leader Kizza Besigye.

In 2016, he was arrested by police at his party headquarters for visiting a house where he thought ballot stuffing was taking place (votes for the race were still being counted). Police, however, said the house was actually government property and Besigye had trespassed. The US State Department condemned the arrest, saying it was just further "intimidation" by a government that also chose to block social media on election day.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei

Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei jailed Mehdi Karroubi and Mir Hossein Mousavi, candidates for the 2009 presidential election, along with their wives. All were placed under house arrest for contesting the election results.

As of October 2016, they are still in solitary confinement, reportedly denied medical care and only allowed "short, highly guarded visits."

Zambian President Edgar Lungu

Zambian President Edgar Lungu allegedly jailed opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema.

Two months after defeating Hichilema in the summer of 2016, Lungu reportedly arrested his opponent and his vice-presidential candidate for "illegal assembly and riotous practices" in connection with protests over the election results.

Former Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez

Former Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez allegedly jailed more than 100 political "enemies".

After he died in 2013, many of Hugo Chávez's political opponents remained in prison, seeking amnesty from his successor, Nicolas Maduro. These prisoners included a judge, a local police chief and a former army general whom Chávez is said to have released for various acts of dissent. Maduro's government, following Chávez's leadership, later sentenced opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez in 2015 with 14 years in prison for inciting mass protests in 2014.

Former Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega

Former Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega allegedly jailed around 100 political prisoners sent to a small island prison during his six-year reign.