He commanded the Georgian National Guards in 1990-1992 and was one of the main organizers of military coup d'etat against President Zviad Gamsakhurdia in December 1991-January 1992.
He commanded the Georgian National Guards in 1990-1991. When President Zviad Gamsakhurdia removed him from his post of commander in August 1991, Kitovani joined the opposition and was one of the military leaders of violent coup in December 1991-January 1992.