Georgia is suspending talks on its bid to join the European Union for four years, its prime minister said Thursday, in view of what he described as “blackmail and manipulation” from some of the bloc's politicians.

Thousands of protesters have returned to the streets of Tbilisi to protest against the government's decision to suspend accession talks with the European Union. Demonstrators were seen shouting "traitors" and holding photographs of journalists who they say were beaten by police in Thursday nights protests.

Georgia has been rocked by protests after its increasingly autocratic government said it would halt the former Soviet country’s bid to join the European Union.