Days of protests have rocked Georgia following the government’s controversial decision to delay the former Soviet country’s bid to join the European Union.

Protesters have been out in the Georgian capital, Tbilisi, for a fourth night after the country's bid to join the European Union was put on hold by the ruling party, Georgian Dream. Fireworks were shot towards riot police on the steps of parliament and a water cannon was fired at demonstrators.

Protesters rallied in Georgia’s capital for a fourth straight night on Sunday and there were signs that opposition was spreading across the country to the government’s decision to suspend talks on joining the European Union.

Thousands of demonstrators protesting the Georgian government's decision to suspend negotiations to join the European Union rallied outside the parliament and clashed with police for a second straight night on Friday.

Earlier, more than 100 diplomats and civil servants in Georgia signed an open letter saying the government's decision does not align with Georgia's strategic interests. Defending his decision, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze accused the EU of "blackmail" after EU legislators called for last month's parliamentary elections in Georgia to be re-run.

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.

Police in Tbilisi fired water cannons at protesters who took to the streets after Georgia’s ruling party suspended negotiations to join the European Union until 2028.

Georgia has suspended its bid to join the European Union, prompting thousands of protesters to take to the streets, where they clashed with police in the capital of Tbilisi.