He also studied law at the Vilnius University and was further educated at the Lenin Military-Political Academy in Moscow.

[1] Sharashenidze retained his post of the country's military commissar after Georgia declared independence from the Soviet Union in April 1991.

He was involved in a military coup against Georgia's first elected president Zviad Gamsakhurdia (December 1991–January 1992).

[2] In the course of the coup, the rebel Military Council appointed Sharashenidze Georgia's defense minister on January 3, 1992.

[1] In his capacity, he was present at the Georgian headquarters and was involved in the diplomatic efforts with Russia during the war with separatists in Abkhazia (1992–1993).