He oversaw the deportation and relocation of ethnic groups from the North Caucasus, which was planned and organized by Lavrentiy Beria and approved by Stalin.

After entering the Red Army in 1928, Gvishiani was assigned to the Joint State Political Directorate (OGPU) and posted for matters concerning the Far East of the Soviet Union, until 1938.

From 1928 to 1938 lieutenant Gvishiani was assigned to and took charge of various divisions and departments of mainly Georgian branches of the Soviet secret police apparatus NKVD.

[5] With Beria's downfall in 1953, Gvishiani lost his patron and as a political consequence was discharged, officially due to a conflict of authority, and deemed unworthy to hold the rank of a general officer.

[6] His son, Dzhermen Gvishiani, was married to the daughter of Communist Party Central Committee member Alexei Kosygin, who later became prime minister.