A spontaneous protest rally is gathering outside the Georgian parliament at these minutes - it is a reaction to the government's announcement about the suspension of negotiations with the EU, Novosti-Georgia reports.

At the same time, people are arriving at the office of the ruling Georgian Dream party for the protest.

An emergency statement by the President of Georgia is expected tonight. Salome Zurabishvili held a meeting with the heads of foreign diplomatic missions this evening and the ambassadors have left the President's residence. Zurabishvili is now holding consultations with opposition leaders.

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said today that Georgia itself refuses to negotiate its own accession to the European Union by the end of 2028.  According to him, Tbilisi is ready to resume negotiations by 2030, but on its own terms.