OREANDA-NEWS  The UK is suspending program support for the Georgian government and limiting cooperation in the field of defense, British Foreign Minister David Lammy said.

"In light of current events, the UK is immediately suspending programmatic support to the Georgian government, limiting defense cooperation and reducing interaction with representatives of the Georgian Dream government until the departure from European democratic norms and freedoms is stopped," Lammy said in a statement released by the British Embassy in Tbilisi.

At the same time, the Foreign Minister noted that "the United Kingdom will continue to support the people of Georgia and support their right to choose the future of their country."

"The shocking scenes of violence against protesters and journalists by the Georgian authorities are unacceptable and must be stopped. These actions damage Georgia's international positions and contradict Georgia's constitutional obligations towards the European future," Lammy said.

The protests in Georgia began after the decision of the ruling Georgian Dream party to postpone negotiations on joining the European Union until 2028. The actions in Tbilisi and other cities of the republic have been going on since the end of November.