Georgia's prime minister on Tuesday threatened to punish his political opponents, accusing them of being behind violence at mass protests, as Tbilisi's top court rejected a key lawsuit to annul the result of a contested October vote.

The demonstrators are backed by Georgia's pro-EU president Salome Zurabishvili, who has vowed to stay in office until fresh elections, despite her term being officially set to end.

Georgia’s premier ruled out holding talks with the opposition after four nights of violent clashes in the capital helped propel the lari to a two-year low against the dollar.