Mikheil Saakashvili, Georgia’s president, on Thursday night called early elections amid international criticism of his violent clampdown on unarmed demonstrators.

The Georgian leader, until now feted in the west, has accused Russia of fomenting the six-day long protests in Tbilisi and expelled three Russian diplomats. Two opposition leaders were charged with espionage and plotting to overthrow the government with Russian support. Moscow responded by throwing out three Georgian diplomats and denied involvement.