In 1820, Ivane—hitherto a "loyal" Russian subject—was nominated, by virtue of being Solomon I's grandson, as a king of Imereti by one of the rebel noble parties, dominated by the Abashidze clan.
Overwhelmed by the Russian troops, Abashidze fled to Kaikhosro Gurieli, an uncle of his wife, in the Principality of Guria, whose many nobles also joined the Imeretian rebellion.
In the meantime, the loyal prince-regnant of Guria, Mamia V Gurieli, successfully negotiated the return of Ivane's Gurian wife and his children from the road to their exile in Russia.
[2] Ivane Abashidze was murdered near the Ottoman-controlled town of Akhaltsikhe, in 1822, allegedly at the instigation of Prince Vakhtang, a scion of the Imeretian royals, also an anti-Russian rebel and pretender to the throne of Imereti.
[3] Ivane Abashidze was married to Princess Elisabed, a daughter of Simon II Gurieli, Prince of Guria.