To be perfectly honest, I have visited quite a number of 'socialist' countries including communist Russia a few times and, although socially and economically utterly dire, I have never found the people to be particularly unfriendly. Riding the Metro in Moscow is very much like riding the tube in London. No one talks. I have also met newly wealthy Russians on holiday in exotic places and whilst they come across as rather devoid of the usual social graces I've never had a problem with them.