Confusing and complicated situation dealing with inter-ethnic, regional and international situations dating back to pre-historic times (6000 BC). Depends on how far you want to go back.
1) Ethnic minority separatist movements – primarily on the part of the
Ossetians and the
Abkhaz, demanded fuller recognition in the new order of the early
1990
Essentially (and least complicated), the Russian province of Georgia, in a fit of nationalism, declared it's independence, broke away from the "mother country," and - in general - pissed the Russian government off. Lots of natural resources in the province that Russia no longer controls (Oil, pipelines, etc., etc., etc.) Russian Govt. planting "a big foot" into the situation and going to beat the people back into the "fold. (We'll teach those slimy b"*tar**s to leave our federation." )
Nothing the rest of the world can do without declaring all out war with Russia....which, no one is about to do. (Russians are militarily powerful enough to do what ever they want to do without fearing interference from other counties (read the USA).
Bottom line (my opinion, only) Russia wins after leveling everything in the province and the people living there cry "UNCLE." Nothing like a slash and burn - waste everything - response to teach ingrates a lesson.
(to learn more than you ever wanted to know about Georgia go to:
Georgia