Irony is that it only needs to look legitimate-ish to select few officials. Most of Russians don't believe it (though too scared to say), most of officials don'

Irony is that it only needs to look legitimate-ish to select few officials. Most of Russians don't believe it (though too scared to say), most of officials don't believe, but obliged to. No one abroad believes it since it's a stupid thing Russia was doing forever. Diplomats, well they have to remain diplomatic and respond to everything as if it was true.