[ClumsyPilot]

The North Georgia part is actually known as South Ossetia and they didn't want to be part of Georgia for decades.

Russia obviously used the opportunity, but the claim was not entirely without merit.

[ummwhat]

The extent to which these groups are legitimate vs. a front for Russia is always uncertain. The ambiguity is by design.

[AnAfrican]

no, the groups are legitimate. the real question is whever they'd have achieve so much without Russia's help.

[gdy]

Of course not. If not for Russian intervention Moldavian army would've drowned them in blood. Think Kosovo.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transnistria#Transnistria_War

[gdy]

And God forbid researching the topic -- you might find that sometimes Russians are the good guys.