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And like any police state Russia wants to police it's neighbours, therefore the presence of american military on the Georgian soil and overall pro-american trends of Georgian politics were highly unwelcome.

Good thing that Georgia was a lawless criminal state that couldn't manage its own tiny bit of land. It resorted to the genocide of the Ossetians and the Abkhazians, which was swiftly persecuted by Russia. A few goals have been achieved by this:

• Russian military might was tested in a real conflict. Subsequently, all shortcomings were fixed.
• Russia policed its neighbour (it's as satisfying and as important for big countries as masturbation to males).
• Patriots were very happy about the flawless victory against USA.
• Putin's ratings went up.
• Two small nations were saved that day.
• It was a clear "Piss off!" message right in NATO's face.

As for mr. Litvinenko, he was a traitor of his motherland. Any other resourceful country would do the same.

However, the future of homosexuality in Russia is very grim. During Soviets homosexuality could get you in prison. Russia is treading back there.