Protesters in Georgia used a makeshift firework gun against riot police on the third night of violent clashes with the pro-Russian government in the capital.

Violence erupted outside Georgia’s parliament between police and demonstrators protesting the government’s decision to delay European Union membership talks amid a post-election crisis.

Thousands of people gathered in Georgia’s capital Tbilisi on Saturday in protests that saw dozens arrested.

The Black Sea nation has been in turmoil since the ruling Georgian Dream party claimed victory in the October 26 parliamentary election that the pro-European opposition has said was fraudulent.

Chaotic scenes unfolded for hours as police chased defiant protesters through the streets of central Tbilisi, beating them and making arrests.

Masked officers in riot gear fired rubber bullets, tear gas and water cannons as they moved in to disperse protesters hurling fireworks, while flames were seen coming from a window of the parliament building. Demonstrators erected barricades on Tbilisi’s main avenue, and one group was seen aiming a cylinder discharging multiple quickfire fireworks down the street.