It must be extremely difficult for anyone in a totalitarian state to stop those who control it. After all, even in so called western democracies, all manner of inequity, indignity, injustice, harassment, prejudice, corruption, and both covert and overt brutality, false arrest and worse. is not uncommon.

No, "they", in general, don't "get what they paid for". In most cases, these victims are so because they have, in some way and to a greater or lesser degree, objected to or opposed those in control and/or their ideology.

In reality, what "they get" is not what "they paid for" but rather, the opposite. Even where they have at some point been complicit with the regime, it is simplistic to ignore conditioning, environment, peer pressure, social expectations and controls dictating opportunity.

Yes, there are some human beings who have the courage and determination and capacity to go against significant elements of the society in which they live. However they are few and far between, not necessarily because of a lack of courage but because many other factors have to be considered, such as what may happen to their families or friends, for instance.

Geopolitics, religion, ideology, history, economics & information & an education providing the capability to understand their implications are all factors affecting how a person sees and acts in their society as well as how the see and act towards others.