Georgian police on Wednesday raided the offices of an opposition party and arrested its leader in an apparent attempt to squelch a wave of mass protests triggered by the governing party’s decision to suspend negotiations on joining the European Union.

The leader of Georgia's main opposition party has been detained amid ongoing protests against the government's decision to suspend EU talks. Riot police have clashed with demonstrators, detaining opposition figures and drawing international criticism.

Protesters rallied outside Georgia’s Parliament building for a seventh consecutive night on Thursday to vent their anger at the government’s decision to suspend the process of joining the European Union.