Georgian police have raided the offices of an opposition party and arrested its leader in an apparent attempt to squelch a wave of mass protests over the decision to suspend negotiations on joining the European Union.

In a sign of a widening crackdown, security agents have searched the offices and homes of prominent activists and opposition leaders who fear the country is turning closer to Russia.

A young woman confronted riot police in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi, as part of protests against the decision of the Georgian Dream party to put EU accession talks on hold. Footage showed a solo protest by the woman who tried to break a riot police cordon.