It seems like the years of power created some kind reality distortion field around him so that he don't see all the futility of his attempts to look good. There is no escape from "dictator vs.freedom fighter" narrative. The dictator is always bad nevermind the net effect of his years in power. The freedom fighter is always good and no insinuations about him beign paid by foreing agencies or turning his country into war or just chaos would change that.