At least 44 people are in hospital after a fourth night of protests taking place in the Georgian capital against the government’s decision to suspend negotiations to join the European Union.
Tens of thousands of demonstrators gathered outside the parliament building in Tbilisi on Sunday.
Some hurled fireworks and threw stones towards police.
Officers deployed water cannons and tear gas which many protesters used umbrellas to shield themselves from.
Georgia’s Interior Ministry said 27 people, 16 police and one media worker were hospitalised.
Many Georgians have been shocked by the level of violence directed at journalists as well as activists. Dozens of reporters have been beaten or pepper sprayed.
Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze warned that “any violation of the law will be met with the full rigor of the law”.
He said in a briefing: “Neither will those politicians who hide in their offices and sacrifice members of their violent groups to severe punishment escape responsibility.”
The government’s announcement came hours after the European Parliament adopted a resolution criticising last month’s general election in the country as neither free nor fair.
Kobakhidze added: “The only thing we have rejected is the shameful and offensive blackmail, which was, in fact, a significant obstacle to our country’s European integration.”
He also dismissed the US State Department’s statement on Saturday that it was suspending its strategic partnership with Georgia. The statement condemned the decision to halt its efforts toward EU accession.
“You can see that the outgoing administration is trying to leave the new administration with as difficult a legacy as possible. They are doing this regarding Ukraine, and now also concerning Georgia,” Kobakhidze said.
“This will not have any fundamental significance. We will wait for the new administration and discuss everything with them.”
After a string of public resignations, Kobakhidze confirmed David Zalkaliani - Georgia’s ambassador to the US - had become the latest of a number of diplomats to stand down since the protests started.
The ruling Georgian Dream party’s disputed victory in the October 26 parliamentary election, widely seen as a referendum on Georgia’s aspirations to join the EU, has sparked major demonstrations and led to an opposition boycott of parliament.
