Nationwide protests in Georgia are a battle for the direction of the country toward Europe or Russia [Video]

As the riot police form a line, shields raised, protesters across the street shout curses and chants at them before deploying fireworks.

As the pyrotechnics rain down, some of the police charge forward, dragging protesters away for arrest, beating them all the while. A crowd dispersal vehicle with water cannons douses the still-defiant group as the police line advances. When that fails, the tear gas comes next, wreathing Rustaveli Avenue in acrid smoke.

Eventually, the protesters are slowly cleared.

This is the scene that has played out nightly for nearly two weeks in Tbilisi, Georgia’s capital.

Protests have rocked the South Caucasus republic since Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze announced on Nov. 28 that the government was suspending talks on joining the European Union, long an official and popular goal in Georgia. 

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