Career
He entered national politics by reviving the Georgian National Democratic Party (NDP) as an informal anti-Communist oppositional organization in 1981. He was arrested several times by the Soviet authorities. By the end of the 80s, he became one of the leaders of national movement along with Merab Kostava and Zviad Gamsakhurdia.
The conflict in South Ossetia split the opponents of the Communists – but only to a small degree.
Although Gamsakhurdia and Chanturia did not agree on how to deal with the secessionist demands of the Ossetians, they were both more opposed to the Communists and continuing membership of the Union of the Soviet Socialist Republics. In April 1991, Georgia declared independence from the Soviet Union. Soon Zviad Gamsakhurdia was elected as the first President of Georgia.
However, Gamsakhurdia’s move towards authoritarianism made many of his former allies, including Chanturia, to join the opposition. The opposition to Gamsakhurdia, now joined in an uneasy coalition behind former Prime Minister Tengiz Sigua and the National Guard leader Tengiz Kitovani demanded that Gamsakhurdia resign and call new parliamentary elections.
Gamsakhurdia refused to compromise, and his troops forcibly dispersed a large opposition rally in Tbilisi on September 2, 1991.
Following the break-up, Gia Chanturia was arrested after a plane in which he was flying was ordered to return to Tbilisi on the evening of September 17, 1991. He was charged with having organized construction of barricades on Rustaveli Avenue on September 2, which his supporters deny he did. After the fall of Gamsakhurdia, Chanturia was in moderate opposition to Eduard Shevardnadze’s government in 1992-1994.
Chanturia and his bodyguard died, while Sarishvili was severely wounded.
The terrorists succeeded in escaping. Nobody was arrested on charges of assassination.
Neither did any group take responsibility for the act of terrorism. The Georgian political world was shocked by the assassination of Chanturia.
His death escalated calls for resignation of the Cabinet of Ministers.
While Ioseliani was accused of running Georgia as a Mafia godfather, two ministers had been mentioned as promoting Russian rather than Georgian national interests.