Former Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili published a letter saying he did not commit a crime and went to prison because he did not want to harm the interests of the state and his political team.

"I want to tell society the truth about why I am in prison. The anti-corruption campaign launched last year was primarily aimed at imprisoning and politically destroying him.

I state with full responsibility that I did everything to avoid entering into confrontation with the team and a person dear to me.

For this very reason, I refused to pursue a legal battle and went through the destructive process to the end so as not to damage the interests of the state and the team.

Instead, I had faced a staged, dirty provocation, lies and injustice. I remained silent throughout the process and accepted the ordeal patiently.

However, in July I received a letter, which was sent by Mamuka Mdinaradze… That same day, I conveyed my position to him and once again made it clear that

I did not intend to return to politics. To insure against the aforementioned `risk`, I offered my vision. But they responded that there still remained a 1% risk that I would return to politics and that, for this reason, it was necessary to bring corruption charges against me and have me admit to them… This demand was a "red line" and forced me to take the most difficult step of my life… Therefore, as I have no other way out, I am being forced to begin the fight", - writes Irakli Garibashvili.