The "ethnic cleansing" and population transfer that has been underway in South Osseatia since the second day of the fighting - accompanied by the recorded destruction of Georgian homes and villages behind fleeing Georgian civilians from South Ossetia means one result is now almost certain - X amount of time, a referendum in the "new" South Ossetia will vote to become part of Russia as a whole. This was always the intention of the South Ossetian separatists - they only wanted to be separate from GEORGIA. It's the Abkahazians want to be FULLY independent.It's not even clear that Georgia started it. There have been pretty strong arguements made that it was a set up by Russia.
The events of the last three weeks has ensured there will be a "legal" pro-Russia voting majority in all internal politics in South Ossetia....because the Georgian poputation in the area have nowhere to return to, the population will be permanently displaced.
To plagarise - "Politics is WAR by another means!"