Ryuu96 said:
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Surprising to some extent but more confirms theories that South Ossetia was essentially operating as part of Russia anyway rather than being independent. Ossetians aren't Russians. It's highly unusual for a region to breakaway from one state only to seek to join another. Feels like the South Ossentian President is a Putin stooge like Kadyrov or Lukashenko and is doing what he is told. You can expect Abhkazia and Transnistria to do the same shortly.
I do wonder though if this would trigger Georgia to attack the region to recapture it from Russia. Whilst they were beaten badly in 2008 they have similar relation with Nato to Ukraine, although I'm not sure if they've received the same level of training, let alone armaments, from them. With the bulk of Russia's forces concentrated elsewhere they could decide its now or never.
Then again they could feel the risk is too great and, whilst the two regions are internationally recognised as part of Georgia and therefore technically wouldn't be seen as illegal, further defeat would result in even greater concessions. Plus even if they do succeed the onus would be on Russia to attack again somewhere down the line. Moldova could end up trying the same in Transnistria - it has a smaller long-term risk as it does not have a border with Russia so a future relatitory attack is less likely.
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