It was later revealed, however, that the legends were a series of elaborate hoaxes perpetrated by successive generations of local writers and journalists, which central publications in the USSR had believed and picked up to boost public interest. The hoax had in fact been first perpetrated and then revealed by Lukyanenko and Grigory Neverov, then president of KLF MGU (KLF = kluba lyubiteley fantastiki, club of fantasy fans), whose involvement started it all. As the story went, when Neverov asked his colleagues throughout the Soviet Union whether they recalled any stories about paranormal phenomena in their regions, Lukyanenko, then an active member of the Almaty KLF, remembered some rumors about mysterious doings on Barsa-Kelmes and decided to play a practical joke on the Muscovite.
It was later discovered, however, that the legends were a series of intricate deceptions orchestrated by successive generations of local writers and journalists, which central publications in the USSR had believed and amplified to generate public interest. The deception had actually been first perpetrated and then exposed by Lukyanenko and Grigory Neverov, then president of KLF MGU (KLF = kluba lyubiteley fantastiki, club of fantasy fans), whose involvement sparked the whole affair. As the story went, when Neverov inquired about any stories about paranormal phenomena in their regions among his colleagues throughout the Soviet Union, Lukyanenko, then an active member of the Almaty KLF, recalled some rumors about mysterious happenings on Barsa-Kelmes and decided to play a practical joke on the Muscovite.