Yeah they're not imperialist, the "People's Republics" that keep popping up in different places and then get attacked by Russia to "protect them" are totally organic.

Honestly this person has to be American. You hear so much less of this bullshit in Europe (although definitely not nonzero amounts… we have more than our share of idiots and fascists too, unfortunately), especially anywhere near Russia. "Russia isn't imperialist" sounds so much dumber when their imperialism is happening right next door.