The expression "Potemkin village" was named for a real incident, or what has been handed down as a real incident.. The empress of Russia, more than 200 years ago, was taking a trip across Russia. Her advisors ( including one named Potemkin ) thought she might be upset by the sight of extreme poverty, so they covered some of it up with a facade of a prosperous village, which would look real when seen through the window of her coach.
Whether the story is literally true or not, the phrase "Potemkin village" now means a false front meant to deceive visitors, reporters, or perhaps government officials.
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