It’s not that simple. I wrote a paper about Abkhazia back in the day.

The deal is this: When the Soviet Union fell, Georgia was automatically independent because technically the Soviet union was voluntary (on paper).

Now the Ossetians (historically known as the Alans) formed a majority in their own area, had an ancient history and wanted independence from both Russia and Georgia and declared it.

The Abkhazi on the other hand were a minority in their own homeland. Like a lot of that part of the world, there aren’t really majorities in a lot of places, just scattered languages around the mountains.

So the Abkhazis started killing everyone. Georgians, other minority groups. Everyone who wasn’t Abkhazi. Eventually Georgia – which was a brand new country, couldn’t handle it, and Russia used their seat on the UN security council to march in – not just to Ossetia and Abkhazia but also to fucking Tblisi.

The UN (ESPECIALLY Russia) refused to recognize either country as independent, so Russia used their Security Council status to fix a blockade on both regions, with only Russian peacekeepers allowed in.

So for over ten years both regions have had their own unrecognized governments that are completely blockaded except from Russian troops. The Russians have used the opportunity to give them food, and spread propaganda saying they should rejoin Russia.

Back when this all started both these regions wanted complete independence – many of these people still do – but Russia has used the UN and exclusive propaganda to try and get them to join.

And there’s nothing to “rejoin”. Both regions were always part of Georgia, which according to Moscow was technically “independent” So if you’re talking about Imperial Russia I guess, but that was long enough to be out of living memory.