Kammala wannan jumlar: Daga 1980 zuwa 1985 da kuma daga 1989 zuwa 1990, Shengelaia, a lokacin memba ne na jam'iyyar Kwaminis, an zabe shi zuwa Soviet Soviet na Georgia SSR kuma, daga 1989 zuwa 1991, zuwa Majalisar Wakilan Jama'a na USSR. Ya kasance memba na hukumar Sobchak, bincike a cikin sojojin Soviet
Dakatar da zanga-zangar neman 'yancin kai a Tbilisi, wanda ya samar da fim din da ya dace. A watan Yulin 1989, Shengelaia ya zama memba mai kafa jam'iyyar People's Front of Georgia, jam'iyyar da ke goyon bayan 'yancin kai, kuma ya fito a matsayin jagora na matsakaiciyar reshenta. A watan Oktoba na 1990, an zabe shi zuwa Majalisar Dokokin Georgia a zaben farko na jam'iyyu da yawa a Soviet Georgia kuma ya kasance mai sanya hannu kan Dokar Independence of Georgia a watan Afrilu 1991. Bayan haka, ya yi adawa da gwamnatin Zviad Gamsakhurdia bayan da aka hambarar da shi a cikin juyin mulkin soja a watan Janairun 1992, Shengelaia ya shiga Majalisar Dokokin Georgia da Eduard Shevardnadze ya jagoranta. A shekarar 1992, ya zama dan majalisa inda ya rike mukamin mataimakin kakakin majalisa tun 1995. Ya yi kawance, a watan Mayu na 1993, tare da ƙungiyar farar hula ta Shevardnadze Unity and Prosperity da wasu manyan masana ilimi suka kafa.