Why exactly does Russia support South Ossetia?

Question

Why exactly does Russia support South Ossetia?

Answer 1

It is an ethnically Russian area as well as being a split region running over the two borders.  

Not to mention the fact that most Baltic states the were former soviet satellites are unstable at best.

Answer 2

During the Soviet era, Russia forcibly settled people in all its subject states.  If you travel through the former USSR you will see huge project housing towers built to house Russian settlers.  All the former Soviet states have large Russian populations, and many have areas which are effectively Russian enclaves.

South Ossetia is one of those.  Its population are fiercely pro-Russian and it has been effectively autonomous from Georgia.  Georgia was trying to control pro-Russian separatists when it sent its troops in - so Russia came to their defence.  (With the philosophy that the best defence is an all-out attack, it seems.)

Answer 3

a lot of russians live in that region.

Answer 4

they want the oil pipe line running through it

Answer 5

The majority of people living in south ossetia are russians living there with russian passport.  Moreover, the people want to live with russia only.  

Answer 6

Same reason we support Israel.