True story! Doesn't surprise me in the slightest - absolutely indicative of life in Russia that the current Russian regime is keen not to show the outside world. Considering the lack of police or any authority besides the mafia in that area, is it really any surprise something like that is happening there? Of course, the FSB that nabbed them later is hardly distinguishable from that same mafia in the first place.
Don't know if you can call them 'Potemkin Villages' though since they're hardly a good display...
On the other hand, in defense of the Siberians: yes they can be real cranky, but I have to say that some of the most awesome, straightforward, ready-to-help people that I have met have been from Siberia. They're big-hearted, independent, tough-minded bunch. In many of them you can definitely see the influence of the land they live on.
Very much reminds me of this, another classic true story:
(caution: strong language)
: