Russia has been involved in the Caucasus for at least three centuries. A lot of Russians live in that region, and a lot of Caucasus natives live in Russia. There are plenty of intermarriages.

Much of Russia’s historical role has been benign, protecting endangered minorities from threatening majorities. Georgia itself was protected from the Ottoman Empire by Russia.

Russia is motivated primarily not by some desire to bully the people who live in the Caucasus but rather by desires that the region develop peacefully and not serve as a platform for threats against Russia. Georgia’s intention to join NATO is perceived to be such a threat.

It’s interesting that the Caucasus nations view themselves as potential Europeans, but so does Russia itself. I was in Europe this summer and watched the annual Eurovision Song Contest (kind of like American Idol, but with singing groups). Russia won, and Ukraine was (as I recall) third. This was the first year that Azerbaidzhan participated, and it did suprisingly well — within the top 20. Georgia was in the top 20 too. And so was another “European” contestant — Israel.