The pro-Russian, pro-independence Government of the Republic of South Ossetia, which has its capital at Tskhinvali isn't just 'seeking autonomy' it declared itself a de facto status independent state following the 2006 referendum that demonstrated almost universal (99%) support for independence.
Hmm, that's because the native Georgians (which as you pointed out are over 25% of the population) boycotted it. When the Georgian supported parties held there own, surprise, surprise, they got over 95% as well..)
The Russian Federation didn't recognise the result of the referendum - and they have issued the inhabitants with
Russian passports; the "government is stuffed with Russian KGB and other security apparatchiks*, and it relies entirely on Russia for financial support; it's other half - North Ossetia, is a
Russian Federal Republic.
*The head of the local KGB, Anatoly Baranov, used to head the Federal Security Service (FSB) in the Russian Republic of Mordovia. The head of the South Ossetian Interior Ministry, Mikhail Mindzayev, served in the Interior Ministry of Russia's North Ossetia. The South Ossetian "defense minister," Vasily Lunev, used to be military commissar in Perm Oblast, and the secretary of South Ossetia's Security Council, Anatoly Barankevich, is a former deputy military commissar of Stavropol Krai. Not one is a supporter of true independence - it's a front.
If you truly believe this an independence movement and the Russians are truly looking at supporting a viable independent state, I must say I am starting to lose faith in either your investigative journalist abilities or credulity.