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.

Georgian police and special forces began clearing protesters and barricades from the main avenue in Tbilisi after a second night of clashes, triggered by the ruling party announcement that it will delay talks with the European Union on membership.

Police clashed with protesters in the Georgian capital Tbilisi early on Friday, after the country’s ruling party said the government would suspend talks on European Union accession and refuse budgetary grants until 2028.