on august 8, 2008, the same day as the 2008 olympic games officially commenced, georgian armed forces moved forward to take control of tskhinvali. in the next few days, russian troops pushed back the georgian army out of south ossetia and moved farther, occupying gori in georgia proper. following the end of hostilities, the federation council of russia called an extraordinary session for august 25, 2008 to discuss recognition of abkhazia and south ossetia. on august 25, the federation council unanimously voted to ask the russian president to recognise independence of south ossetia