you stated "I don't think Riot can split a country into 2 regions"
which they could easily do with Russia consider its size and far it stretches. The country has 11 time zones bro.
CIS has had 1 VCL that was gonna be part of the EMEA finals. Far East Russians do not have or have had any VCL in Pacific. If they were considered Pacific and not EMEA players. It would actually be very unfair for them if they were Pacific because they would not have any VCL they could actually compete in as regionals