TBILISI, November 30. /TASS/. Riot police completely cleared the square in front of the Georgian parliament of protesters, according to a TASS reporter at the scene.

The police have now positioned themselves in front of the parliament in the country’s capital of Tbilisi, while the protesters moved up Rustaveli Avenue. They built barricades there and set fire to wooden chairs and trash cans.

While not advancing from the parliament square, the police occasionally hurl smoke grenades and spray tear gas toward the crowd.

At times, police detained people. The exact number of detainees has not been named yet. There are also reports that some people were injured during the crackdown.

The anti-government rally in front of the parliament building started on Friday. It later turned into clashes with the police, even as the Interior Ministry repeatedly warned protesters not to break the law. Ultimately, it was decided to disperse the protest.

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said on Thursday that the ruling Georgian Dream — Democratic Georgia party had decided to put on ice any EU accession talks until the end of 2028 and turn down any funding from the bloc. According to the official, the decision was prompted by regular blackmail by the EU in relation to the talks, along with demands to rescind some recent laws and calls to sanction Georgian officials.

Kobakhidze’s statement caused outrage among some people. It was followed by a rally on Thursday that evolved into skirmishes with police and left some people injured.