The leader of Georgia’s main opposition party has been detained by police in the capital Tbilisi after being knocked to the ground and falling unconscious, his party said, the most high-profile in a sweeping wave of arrests of senior opposition figures.

Thousands of Georgians have taken to the streets for the sixth consecutive night after the ruling Georgian Dream party’s move to suspend the nation’s bid to join the European Union reignited opposition to the government.

Local media in Georgia reported that police carried out raids targeting the offices of several opposition groups and non-governmental organizations.

In a sign of a widening crackdown, security agents have searched the offices and homes of prominent activists and opposition leaders who are furious about the government’s position on Europe.

Thousands of demonstrators in the Georgian capital converged on parliament again on Tuesday. They are venting outrage against the governing party’s decision to suspend negotiations on joining the European Union.

Georgian law enforcement officers have detained several participants in anti-government protests in Tbilisi following the government's decision to suspend Georgia's European integration until late 2028.