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.

Massive protests erupted in Georgia over the government’s decision to suspend the country’s bid to join the European Union. Authorities clamped down hard on the demonstrations, prompting condemnation from the US: Police fired tear gas and used water cannons, and more than 40 people were injured on Saturday, officials said.

A third night of protests in the Georgian capital against the government’s decision to suspend negotiations to join the European Union left 44 people hospitalized, officials said Sunday.