There is a misunderstanding: I know that he and some opposition figures are not US puppets and I know that some of the so called opposition is similar to CDU or FDP in G.D.R. before the wall had been torn down (so called Blockparteien). They were part of the ruling SED but tried to sell a conservative or liberal appearence.

But I am also sure that most of them are dependent on US resources and that some of them surrendered not only due to corruption but also due to the currently hopeless situation and the withdrawal of US and EU support. I don't know what exactly happened and how they lost the momentum, but it was clear for months that the dictatorship had won this round.