Thousands of people took to the streets in Georgia on Monday for the 12th consecutive day of protests against the government’s decision to halt European Union accession talks following disputed elections.

Protesters gathered outside the parliament in the capital, Tbilisi, demanding a fresh vote and a return to European integration. The political crisis in the Caucasian nation shows no signs of abating.

The pro-Western opposition and the president have rejected the ruling Georgian Dream party’s claimed victory in the October 26 parliamentary elections. Tens of thousands have demonstrated against alleged electoral fraud.

Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze’s unexpected decision on November 28 to suspend EU accession talks for Tbilisi, an EU candidate, has triggered a fresh wave of protests. These demonstrations have been met with a tough police response.

Critics accuse Georgian Dream of creeping authoritarianism and steering the country back towards Russia. Police have used tear gas and water cannons to disperse previous demonstrations and have arrested more than 400 people since the second wave of unrest began.

The crackdown has sparked outrage at home and mounting international condemnation. (ILKHA)