Thousands of demonstrators gathered outside the parliament, throwing stones and setting off fireworks, while police deployed water cannons and tear gas.

The move comes after disputed parliamentary elections, which the President said had been rigged with Moscow’s help.

A third night of protests in the Georgian capital against the government’s decision to suspend negotiations to join the European Union left 44 people hospitalized after police deployed water cannons and tear gas,

Thousands of demonstrators protesting the Georgian government's decision to suspend negotiations to join the European Union rallied outside the parliament and clashed with police for a second straight night on Friday.

Georgia has been rocked by protests after its increasingly autocratic government said it would halt the former Soviet country’s bid to join the European Union.

Earlier, more than 100 diplomats and civil servants in Georgia signed an open letter saying the government's decision does not align with Georgia's strategic interests. Defending his decision, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze accused the EU of "blackmail" after EU legislators called for last month's parliamentary elections in Georgia to be re-run.

Police in Tbilisi fired water cannons at protesters who took to the streets after Georgia’s ruling party suspended negotiations to join the European Union until 2028.

Georgia has suspended its bid to join the European Union, prompting thousands of protesters to take to the streets, where they clashed with police in the capital of Tbilisi.