[powertower]

If I recall the events correctly, the majority of the civilians that were in the conflict zones ran-to the Russian side - instead of the other way around.

That should tell you who the transgressors were that were attacking those same civilians.

Again, if I recall correctly, a good number of those civilians in the "conflict zones" had dual citizenship or at least a Russian passport.

So when Georgia started shelling them, Russia responded.

[ochekurishvili]

Not correct.

Russia has been deploying Russian passports in the conflict zone for two decades, by force... So the reason "defend our citizens, friends" was a "Putin-made". http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/georgia/265...

Many Ossetians headed south to the Georgian side as conflict began, before Russian troops took Tskinvali. Many of them now live in a refugee camps near Gori. http://www.demotix.com/news/77308/refugee-camp-gori-georgia#...

And there have been an ethnic cleansing of Georgians after Russian troops arrived: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethnic_cleansing_of_Georgians_...

[powertower]

You first statement is not supported by the article. It only states that after the Russian military came in they started issuing passports for identification purposes.

The other points can also be challenged considering there are always going to be some numbers in the population that that are pro-Russian and some that are anti-Russian in that region. And there will be further conflict with the anti side.

[ochekurishvili]

The very first Google search result on Russian passports in the province of South Ossetia: http://www.loc.gov/law/help/russian-georgia-war.php

We can argue on details endlessly and it's against my intention. The case is complicated indeed.

To keep it simple: Russia has been "operating" in this region for a long time and it's intention has always been to control Caucasus. It still continues such politics.