Georgia's Political Turmoil: Protests Erupt Over EU Bid Suspension

Protests erupted in Georgia for a third consecutive night following the government's decision to suspend EU membership talks for four years. Demonstrators clashed with police in Tbilisi, leading to over 100 arrests. The unrest follows a disputed parliamentary election, seen as a referendum on EU aspirations, which the opposition claims was rigged with Russian influence. Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili criticized the ruling Georgian Dream party for moving towards a "quasi-Russian" state model. The EU condemned the election and urged a rerun, while the Georgian government rejected EU criticism and financial support.