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.

Massive protests erupted in Georgia over the government’s decision to suspend the country’s bid to join the European Union. Authorities clamped down hard on the demonstrations, prompting condemnation from the US: Police fired tear gas and used water cannons, and more than 40 people were injured on Saturday, officials said.

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.