More than 100 pro-European protesters were arrested yesterday in Georgia, during the second day of street protests sparked by the government’s decision to postpone the country’s EU membership talks.

As the authorities announced today, the 107 arrested were taken into custody for “disobeying police orders” and for “hooliganism” during last night’s demonstration, the Interior Ministry said.

Last night, thousands of people gathered again in front of the parliament in Tbilisi at the call of the pro-European opposition, despite the violent break-up of the demonstration a day earlier, with tear gas and rubber bullets targeting the crowd and journalists.

Restoration police again used tear gas and water cannons against the protesters, who in turn threw eggs and set off fireworks, according to AFP reporters at the scene.

Independent TV channel Pirveli has confirmed that one of its journalists is in hospital with serious injuries after police beat her and her cameraman.

Demonstrations were also held in other cities in the country yesterday, according to Mtavari TV. At least 8 protesters were arrested in Georgia’s second largest city, Batumi, according to Georgian media.

“The resistance movement has begun. (…) I declare my solidarity”, President Zurabishvili said last night in a televised speech. “We will remain united until Georgia fulfills its goals: to return to the European path and proceed to hold new elections.”

“Throughout the night (…) the protesters threw various objects, in particular stones, Molotov cocktails, glass bottles and metal objects at the law enforcement forces,” the ministry said, adding that “10 employees of the Ministry of Interior were injured ».

Regarding Thursday’s demonstration – where police used tear gas and rubber bullets – the ministry said 32 police officers were injured and 43 protesters were arrested.

Georgia is going through a period of crisis after the parliamentary elections of October 26, in which the ruling Georgian Dream emerged as the first party. The pro-Western opposition and the country’s president, Salome Zourabisvili, denounced irregularities in the electoral process.

The government, accused of an authoritarian, pro-Russian turn, sparked a new wave of protests on Thursday by announcing that it would postpone until 2028 any negotiations on European Union membership, a longtime goal of the former Soviet republic.

He assured, however, that he intends to join the EU in 2030.