While I think that this is a legend as to Gorbachev but is true for his successor of Boris Yeltsin in 1989 although prior to becoming Russia's leader. Still it does reflect the ingrained Russian skepticism. Remember that Reagan's precept of "Trust but Verify" was actually based upon a Russian old saying; "doveryai, no proveryai" that he used when he had his summits with Gorbachev.
Russian distrust of authority dates way back in history to at least Tsar Catherine II (the Great) and her chief minister Grigory Potemkin (1787). As you might understand from the name, Potemkin set up fake villages in the newly conquered Crimea to impress the Tsar with how good life was becoming during an investigation trip. Thus the term Potemkin Village refers to fake goods and deception.
Maybe it was Yeltsin- I wasn’t 100% sure
One of the things that brought down the Soviet Union was the TV series Dallas. Although Soviets accepted that the whole rich family thing was contrived, they were fascinated on the lack of focus on full store shelves and opulent meals. If the show was designed towards them as they expected, the show would flaunt such a thing. Instead, those things just appeared in the periphery.
Slowly the Soviet citizens began to realize the rest of the world didn’t suffer like them.