In 1921 he was appointed the Georgian Minister to France, though was unable to serve as the Red Army invaded Georgia.

He was instrumental in convincing the Soviets to reverse the 1904 cession of Gagra and areas west of the Bzyb River to Russia.

[1] In March 1918 he led a delegation to Trabzon to negotiate with the Ottoman Empire over territory that had been ceded in the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, namely Batumi; as Georgia had not been consulted, they were not willing to give up land.

[2] By 10 April Chkhenkeli agreed to use the Treaty as a basis for negotiations, though this was largely a formality, as the Ottoman forces had occupied most of the territory they were promised.

[5] With the conclusion of the war and defeat of Germany, Chkhenkeli, who was pro-German, was replaced as foreign minister by Evgeni Gegechkori, who was more pro-French.