The government’s decision to suspend its bid for European Union membership has driven thousands of protesters into the streets.

Protesters used fireworks against riot police in Tbilisi late on Saturday as they gathered across Georgia for a third straight night of demonstrations against the government’s decision to suspend negotiations to join the European Union.

Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili vowed to defy the ruling party’s plan to replace her as riot police used tear gas and water cannons to disperse protesters during a second night of demonstrations in the capital.