The Caucasus region is extremely divided mountain aria with unique and rich history. Only north caucasus are part of Russian Federation. Most of the region was annexed by Russian Empire during Caucasian Wars in 19th century. After collapse of the Tsar in 20th century region in short time become a part of Soviet Union. Georgia, Azerbaijan and Armenia was considered as members of Soviet Union on other hand north caucasus was considered as part of Russian SFSR. After dissolution of the Soviet Union following countries become independent and north caucasus become a part of Russian Federation. Many national minorities was not represented in that treaty which lead to various territorial disputes, leading to the Nagorno-Karabakh War (1988–1994), the Ossetian-Ingush conflict (1989–1991), the War in Abkhazia (1992–1993), the First Chechen War (1994–1996), the Second Chechen War (1999–2009), and the 2008 South Ossetia War.

Do you know what exactly is going on in Tibet and China? I don't. It's just that Dalay Llama is popular with Western Rock stars. The Chechen cause isn't that popular any more because it looks too similar to the Bogeymen your press has painted after 9/11.

The thing with Abkhazia, South Ossetia and Chechnya is they were not SSRs but Autonomous SSRs and have therefore not been released during the dissolution of the USSR.

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OP, rephrase the question. If you asked, say, only about the Chechens you'd get an awesome story going from Imam Shamyl through Stalin era exile in Siberia. The Abkhazians trace their struggle back into the middle ages when their kingdom was taken over after the extinction of the ruling Anosids. For Ossetia not much is known from the historical record but they speak the only surviving dialect of the Sarmatian language which renders them mightily proud.