Police and protesters have clashed in Georgia after the country’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.

Georgia is pausing its efforts to join the European Union for four years, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze announced on Thursday, citing “blackmail and manipulation” from certain EU politicians. This decision has sparked outrage among the opposition and led to fresh protests.

Protesters claim that the refusal to negotiate accession to the EU by 2028 is "a betrayal of the country's interests."

Georgia is suspending talks on its bid to join the European Union for four years, its prime minister said Thursday, in view of what he described as “blackmail and manipulation” from some of the bloc's politicians.

Georgian riot police on Friday deployed tear gas and water cannon against demonstrators protesting a government decision to delay pursuing European Union accession, AFP reporters witnessed.

The statement by the prime minister came hours after he was reappointed to the job by members of the governing Georgian Dream party after its disputed victory in last month’s parliamentary election that has sparked protests and led to an opposition boycott of parliament.

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.

Georgian riot police on Friday deployed tear gas and water cannon against demonstrators protesting a government decision to delay asking for European Union accession, AFP reporters witnessed.

Georgia on Thursday said it will suspend accession talks with the European Union until the end of 2028. Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze from the nationalist Georgian Dream ruling party said Brussels' demands for negotiations were a form of blackmail and said integration was a two-way process.

This happened while you were sleeping. Here's what the world agencies reported during the night from Thursday to Friday. Special forces brutally dispersed protests in Georgia. Water cannons and pepper spray were used.