Shakhovskoi helped found the Union of Salvation in 1816 and the Union of Welfare in 1818. He supported the plans proposed for assassinating the tsar, but took no part in subsequent Decembrist organizations. Shakhovskoi displayed great courage during the investigation that followed the Decembrist Uprising. He was sentenced to exile for life, but the term was subsequently commuted to 20 years. He was sent to Turukhansk in 1826 and was transferred to Eniseisk in 1827. In exile, he engaged in botanical research and, after a crop failure, gave considerable amounts of money to the people of Turukhansk. In 1829, Shakhovskoi was moved to the Spaso-Efimiev Monastery in Suzdal’, where he died.