[NorseViking]

Chechnya was and is a part of Russia and in never voted for secession. Its separatist dictator was supported by the West if anything.
In 2008 Georgia was who attacked first. It is proven by international investigation.
I have no idea what Syria has to do with it. Russia was invited to help Syria preserve itself as a country which successfully did. Russia is a single foreign power present in Syria legally.

[nathanbedford]

Russia falsely accused Georgia of committing "genocide"[51] and "aggression against South Ossetia".[41] It launched a full-scale land, air and sea invasion of Georgia, including its undisputed territory, on 8 August, referring to it as a "peace enforcement" operation.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russo-Georgian_War#:~:text=Russia%20falsely%20accused%20Georgia%20of,a%20%22peace%20enforcement%22%20operation.