Police clashed with protesters in the Georgian capital Tbilisi early on Friday, after the country’s ruling party said the government would suspend talks on European Union accession and refuse budgetary grants until 2028.

The European Parliament condemned the election results as "neither free nor fair" and blamed the ruling party for Georgia's continued democratic backsliding. In a resolution, lawmakers called for a rerun under international oversight and urged the EU to impose sanctions and limit formal engagement with Georgia's government.

Georgia's ruling party said on Thursday that the country would suspend talks on European Union accession until 2028, while also refusing budgetary grants from Brussels, effectively halting its application to join the bloc.