Ousted Syrian president Bashar al-Assad has been ranked as the most corrupt leader by the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP).
Led his country's production and distribution of the highly addictive street drug Captagon, earning billions of dollars to operate prisons and maintain his brutal authoritarian rule.
While Ruto didn't "win" Person of the Year, the extraordinary public outpouring highlights global demands for justice and accountability.
Ultimately, our judges chose Bashar al-Assad for the top dishonor due to his far-reaching and devastating impact.