Georgian police on Wednesday raided the offices of an opposition party and arrested its leader in an apparent attempt to squelch a wave of mass protests triggered by the governing party’s decision to suspend negotiations on joining the European Union.

The leader of Georgia's main opposition party has been detained amid ongoing protests against the government's decision to suspend EU talks. Riot police have clashed with demonstrators, detaining opposition figures and drawing international criticism.

The leader of Georgia's main opposition party has been detained by police in the capital Tbilisi after being knocked to the ground and falling unconscious, his party said, the most high-profile in a sweeping wave of arrests of senior opposition figures.