Droa Leader: Nika Gilauri’s candidacy for prime minister was not prerequisite, he proposed common candidate, including Salome Zourabichvili’s candidacy

“Nika Gilauri (former prime minister) has never given any instructions or tasks. At no stage of the cooperation was Gilauri’s candidacy for prime minister a prerequisite. His principal, correct and our shared position was a common candidate for PM including Salome Zourabichvili as a possible candidate,” wrote jailed Droa Leader and one of the leaders of the Coalition for Change Elene Khoshtaria in her Facebook post.

Elene Khoshtaria noted that the goal of the Coalition for Change had never been “winning” the National Movement voters, and Nika Gilauri considered this a risk to the process and an undesirable scenario for victory.

Khoshtaria said she deemed it necessary to respond to questions that arose over Nika Gilauri in society and stated that all four leaders of the Coalition for Change had private communication with Nika Gilauri.

“At all stages of the relationship, all decisions were coordinated with all four leaders of the coalition. At no stage of the relationship was there any kind of preconditions, tasks or instructions from Gilauri.

At no stage of the cooperation was Gilauri’s candidacy for prime minister a prerequisite. His principal, correct and our shared position viewpoint was a common candidate for PM, including Salome Zourabichvili as a possible candidate.

A major part of our cooperation involved the development of Georgia’s reforms—including the transit route, the Middle Corridor, economic development, and governance reform—which was a very impressive experience for me.

I underline that the goal of our Coalition for Change has never been to win National Movement voters. Moreover, Nika Gilauri considered this a risk to the process and an undesirable scenario for victory. We have always said that the attraction of new voters is needed instead of dividing UNM voters and I state with full responsibility that it was Nika Gilauri’s viewpoint which we shared.

I did not agree with Gilauri’s being in the backstage, and we talked about it, argued about it, and discussed it. I believe that an actor with political ambitions should position himself publicly.

Nika Gilauri did not go anywhere following the elections. He continued relations with us, participated in the protests after rigged elections and was present on Rustaveli Avenue for a long time after Kobakhidze’s November 28 announcement. He established a charity fund and financed the medical treatment of many individuals injured during the protests. The fund was assisting decent public officials, who were fired from jobs for their committment to the European future.

Gilauri’s charitable foundation was seized by Ivanishvili’s regime. Nika Gilauri is not the only one who has withdrawn from this process at some point, and I do not believe he has any obligation in this regard. It is up to the public to judge for themselves when it is right or wrong to appear or leave. I believe that we should be grateful for the fight against Bidzina Ivanishvili.

I repeat that any questions, criticism or non-acceptance of any politician, including myself, is legitimate and we are obliged to respond to questions. Also, I would underscore that the addressee of my answers is solely the public and under no circumstances the leader, member, or representative of any other party. Despite everything, I believe that there is a common space for joint fight,” she wrote.

In a written interview with TV Pirveli, ex-president Mikheil Saakashvili called Nika Gilauri’s joining political processes a “grave mistake.” He noted that the “Gilauri brothers are classic representatives of a criminal banking syndicate, and the time will soon come when the banking bosses will face criminal responsibility along with the dictatorship.”