[TChris]

This war started when Geogians shelled Tshinval on 08.08.2008. Before this date there were only sporadical exchange of fire (snipers, etc) between Ossetian paramilitary and Georgians troops.
Do you have different information?

Very good.

Now, tell us what was going on in S. Ossetia, a part of sovereign Georgia, prior to 8/8/08? ...specifically, what was Russia doing with regard to S. Ossetia?

[pobeda1945]

Russia gave Ossetians Russian passports, and I personally do not think this was the best idea in the world.
But I can tell you what Russia did not do:
1. Did not install pro-Russian gov. (In contrast to US in Georgia during “Rose revolution”)
2. Did not include Ossetian president of Kremlin pay roll (Saakashvili is on US Dep payroll)
3. Did not kill political opponents (Georgian premier Jvania was murdered by Saakashvili)
4. Did not supply Ossetia with heave weapons (US supplied Georgia with tons of modern weapons starting from M-16 to helicopters)
5. Did not send military advisors to train Ossetian militia (US send ~ 200 military instructors to Georgia)

[pobeda1945]

“S. Ossetia, a part of sovereign Georgia”

by the way - when Geogia was leaving USSR in 1991 using the independence law issued by Gorbachev it should have asked Georgian republics (Abkhazia, Ossetia and Adjaria) about their will (do they agree to leave or want to stay with Russia). So, formally S. Ossetia is NOT a part of Geogia both de-facto and de-jure.