On the streets of Tbilisi: Water cannons on the streets, special forces disperse the protesters PHOTO/VIDEO

Protesters flooded the area in front of the parliament again this evening, and some of them tried to break through the metal entrance door.

The intervention units used water cannons to disperse them, and later they went into action and began to drive some of the protesters out of the area.

The night before, police used water cannons, pepper spray and tear gas to disperse protesters who took to the streets after Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze of the ruling Georgian Dream party announced the suspension.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs announced that it arrested 43 people during yesterday's protest.

Tanjug/AP Photo/Zurab Tsertsvadze

Georgian Dream's disputed victory in the Oct. 26 election, which was widely seen as a referendum on the country's aspirations to join the European Union, sparked mass demonstrations and a boycott of parliament by opposition lawmakers, according to the AP.

The opposition claims that the vote was rigged under the influence of Russia, which wants to keep Georgia in its orbit.

President Salome Zourabichvili joined the protesters yesterday after addressing the nation, in which she accused the government of declaring "war" on its own people.

The government's announcement that it has suspended EU accession negotiations came a few hours after the European Parliament adopted a resolution in which it assessed that last month's election process was neither free nor fair and represented another expression of the continuation of the democratic backsliding "for which the ruling party, the Georgian Dream, is fully responsible".

The EU granted Georgia candidate status in December 2023 on the condition that it fulfills the European bloc's recommendations, but suspended its accession process and cut financial aid earlier this year after the adoption of an "external influence" law widely seen as a blow to democratic freedoms.

The EU MPs called for new parliamentary elections to be held within a year under thorough international control and with an independent electoral administration. They called on the EU to impose sanctions and limit formal contacts with the Georgian government.

Let us remind you that during the opposition rally in front of the parliament in Tbilisi, which was held on Thursday evening due to the statement of Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on the termination of negotiations on accession to the European Union, 43 people were detained.

"Members of the police detained 43 people during the operation for disobeying the legitimate demands of police officers and petty hooliganism," the statement said.

In addition, it is noted that 32 members of this Ministry were injured in the clashes with the demonstrators, and some of them received serious injuries.

Tanjug/AP Photo/Zurab Tsertsvadze