He was nicknamed Kiskas, meaning "the Swift" Ashot was a son of Bagrat I of Klarjeti.
Ashot was in possession of the important fortified town of Artanuji, which he probably inherited from his elder brother, Gurgen I of Klarjeti.
According to Constantine Porphyrogenitus' De Administrando Imperio, Ashot was on bad terms with his son-in-law Gurgen of Tao, who was determined to take Artanuji as his own.
The Byzantine plenipotentiary, the patrikios Constans fulfilled his mission to confirm Gurgen of Tao as magistros and proceeded to occupy Artanuji with the Chaldian army.
Ashot the Swift was given back Artanuji, but Gurgen soon captured the town and gave his father-in-law some land in compensation, which also he later annexed.