The demonstrators are backed by Georgia's pro-EU president Salome Zurabishvili, who has vowed to stay in office until fresh elections, despite her term being officially set to end.

Georgia, which has been criticized for using "excessive force" to crack down on anti-government protests, has become increasingly authoritarian, according to Western governments.

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

Georgia's president said Monday that mass pro-EU protests involving tens of thousands of people showed no sign of stopping after police fired water cannon and tear gas on a fourth night of demonstrations.

A third night of protests in the Georgian capital against the government’s decision to suspend negotiations to join the European Union has left 44 people hospitalized

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, officials said Sunday.

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

Police say 224 people were detained "over the past few days" of ongoing opposition mass protests following the government’s decision to suspend negotiations to join the European Union. Georgia's interior ministry said Monday that 21 police officers were injured on Sunday.