Answer:
Correct answer is Many of these countries had existed before being absorbed into the USSR .
Step-by-step explanation:
First option is correct because most of these countries proclaimed independence after the fall of Russian Empire, but were later practically absorbed by Soviet Union. It includes Armenia, Azerbaijan, Baltic states...
Although in many of this countries certain ethnic groups have majority, the countries were not shaped like that.
EU had nothing to do with this process.
Last option also is not correct, as they proclaimed independence on their own, mostly on referendum.