Elene Khoshtaria: I began working with Nika Gilauri on my own responsibility, not on anyone else's, after receiving answers to questions that were fundamentally important to me. Therefore, I take personal responsibility for that relationship, not anyone else, Khoshtaria said in a letter released from prison.

According to Khoshtaria, at no stage of their cooperation did Gilauri make becoming the coalition's prime ministerial candidate a precondition.

She also said that she did not agree with Gilauri remaining in the background.

"I consider it my duty to answer the questions that have arisen in society regarding Nika Gilauri. It does not matter how or why these questions emerged. The public has the right to ask questions, to distrust us, and to criticize us. We, in turn, have an obligation to answer all of those questions. I also feel an obligation toward Nika Gilauri to speak honestly about our cooperation. I would also like to note that I do not think it is right for only Nika Gvaramia to speak about Gilauri, because all four leaders of the Coalition for Change worked with him directly.

I began my relationship with Gilauri on my own responsibility, not on anyone else's, after receiving answers to questions that were fundamentally important to me. Therefore, I am personally responsible for that relationship.

At every stage, all decisions were coordinated among the coalition's four leaders. At no point did Gilauri impose any conditions, issue orders, or give instructions. At no stage did he make becoming the coalition's prime ministerial candidate a condition for cooperation. His consistent position - which we fully shared - was that there should be a single joint candidate for prime minister. Among the possible candidates discussed was Salome Zurabishvili.

Most of our cooperation focused on developing reforms for Georgia, transit routes, the Middle Corridor, economic development, and governance reform. For me, it was a highly valuable experience.

I want to emphasize that the Coalition for Change never sought to take voters away from the United National Movement. On the contrary, Nika Gilauri considered that a risk and an undesirable scenario for achieving victory. We always believed it was necessary to attract new voters rather than divide the opposition electorate. I state with full responsibility that this was Gilauri's position, and we fully agreed with it.

I did not agree with Gilauri remaining behind the scenes, and we discussed and debated this issue. I believe that a political figure with ambitions should position themselves publicly.

After the election was rigged, Nika Gilauri did not disappear. He continued working with us. He took part in the protests after the election and stood on Rustaveli Avenue for a long time following Irakli Kobakhidze's November 28 statement. He also established a charitable foundation that financed the medical treatment of many people injured during the protests. The foundation supported conscientious public servants who were dismissed because of their commitment to Georgia's European future and paid numerous unlawful fines. Gilauri's charitable foundation was frozen by the Ivanishvili regime.

Nika Gilauri is not the only person who stepped away from this effort at some point, and I do not believe he had any obligation to remain involved. Society can judge for itself whether the timing of someone's appearance or departure was right or wrong - that is a separate issue. In my view, he deserves nothing but gratitude for his contribution to the struggle against Bidzina Ivanishvili.

I repeat: every question, criticism, or disagreement directed at any politician, including myself, is legitimate, and we are obliged to answer those questions. At the same time, I want to emphasize that my responses are addressed solely to the public and not to the leader, member, or representative of any political party.

Despite everything, I still believe there is room for us to continue fighting together," Khoshtaria wrote.