What other reason did Russia have other them to protect?
When have the Russians ever done anything out of good natured ideals in the past.
Mmm, they got nothing out of it.
Not true they now control the main Georgian seaports and have claimed many resources. They have also obtained a sphere of influence in Georgia and maybye even new territory if the South Ossetians choose to be absorebed.
Most South Ossetians wanted to leave Georgia.
That may be, however that is not an excuse for the Russians to completely disregard all the international treaties forbidding behaviour and border infringements of this kind.