Thousands of demonstrators protesting the Georgian government’s decision to suspend negotiations to join the European Union rallied outside parliament in Tbilisi for a second straight night on Friday,

Georgia has been rocked by protests after its increasingly autocratic government said it would halt the former Soviet country’s bid to join the European Union.

Riot police in Georgia used pepper spray and water cannons against protesters after the government suspended moves to join the European Union. Dozens of people were arrested during the tense stand-off in the capital, Tbilisi, as demonstrators refused to disperse.