By Ailis Halligan in Tbilisi A pro-EU protest intended to block a key traffic artery in the Georgian capital on February 2 was met with heavy police repression and violent arrests, a day after the Georgian authorities classified the highway as “strategic infrastructure” and criminalised obstructing it.

The leader of Georgia ’s largest opposition party was arrested on Sunday as thousands of demonstrators again took to the streets demanding new parliamentary elections. At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

In Georgia, police arrested several anti-government protesters, including prominent opposition leaders, as thousands demanded new parliamentary elections. Demonstrators temporarily blocked a motorway near Tbilisi.

Anti-government protesters took to the streets in Georgia on Sunday where police made several arrests -- among them two of the country's opposition leaders. Daily mass protests have gripped the

Georgian police on Sunday arrested two opposition leaders during a street protest against the ruling party, which has been accused of democratic backsliding and of moving Tbilisi closer to Russia.

Georgian police arrested two opposition leaders, including the former mayor of Tbilisi, during a street protest against the ruling Georgian Dream party, Echo of the Caucasus reported on Feb. 2. Along with former Tbilisi Mayor Gigi Ugulava,

Nika Melia, the detained leader from the Akhali opposition party who was arrested during pro-European protests in Tbilisi, has been released, while over 30 people remain in detention. Source: Interpressnews,