“Potemkin Village” – A Fake Urban Decorations Among The Ufa City

“The phrase “Potemkin village” (also “Potyomkin village”, derived from the Russian: Потёмкинские деревни, Potyomkinskiye derevni) was originally used to describe a fake portable village, built only to impress. According to the story, Grigory Potemkin erected the fake portable settlement along the banks of the Dnieper River in order to fool Empress Catherine II during her journey to Crimea in 1787. The phrase is now used, typically in politics and economics, to describe any construction (literal or figurative) built solely to deceive others into thinking that some situation is better than it really is. Some modern historians claim the original story is exaggerated”. – Wikipedia.

In this photo taken on Sunday, July 5, 2015, police officers walk along a giant poster to give an improved appearance, in downtown Ufa, Russia. Ufa will host SOC (Shanghai Cooperation Organization) and BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) summits July 7 to July 9, 2015. (Photo by Vadim Braydov/AP Photo)

In this photo taken on Sunday, July 5, 2015, security officers walk near a Congress Hall which will host SOC (Shanghai Cooperation Organization) and BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) summits July 7 to July 9, 2015. A house on a hill is partially covered with paintings of a forest, to hide it. (Photo by Vadim Braydov/AP Photo)

In this photo taken on Sunday, July 5, 2015, people walk along an old house covered with an advertising poster in downtown Ufa, Russia. (Photo by Vadim Braydov/AP Photo)

In this photo taken on Sunday, July 5, 2015, people walk past a giant poster, top to give an improved appearance, in downtown Ufa, Russia. (Photo by Vadim Braydov/AP Photo)

In this photo taken on Sunday, July 5, 2015, municipal workers fix a banner depicting a forest, to hide old private houses outside a Congress Hall which will host SOC (Shanghai Cooperation Organization) and BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) summits July 7 to July 9, 2015. (Photo by Vadim Braydov/AP Photo)

In this photo taken on Sunday, July 5, 2015, a man walks near a Congress Hall which will host SOC (Shanghai Cooperation Organization) and BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) summits July 7 to July 9, 2015. A nearby hill has been covered with an artificial grass carpet to give it a better look. (Photo by Vadim Braydov/AP Photo)

In this photo taken on Sunday, July 5, 2015, municipal workers cover an old house to give it a better look, in downtown Ufa, Russia. (Photo by Vadim Braydov/AP Photo)

A woman walks past a giant poster screen designed to improve the street view for the upcoming international summit meetings, in Ufa, Russia, on Monday, July 6, 2015. (Photo by Vadim Braydov/AP Photo)

In this photo taken on Sunday, July 5, 2015, a woman and her child walk along an old house covered with illustrated sheeting to give the facade an improved appearance, in downtown Ufa, Russia. (Photo by Vadim Braydov/AP Photo)