Two weeks ago, Georgians had every reason to think that Zviad Gamsakhurdia wouldn't be on hand to kick them around anymore. The ousted President, elected with 87% of the vote only seven months earlier, had seen his popularity collapse amid charges of repression and high-handedness. Gamsakhurdia had fled the capital of Tbilisi after the surging opposition successfully launched a 16-day siege. Last week he reappeared in western Georgia calling for a massive offensive "to do away with the junta" that had replaced him.
Neighboring Armenia had granted Gamsakhurdia a safe haven on condition that he abstain from politics. Ten days later,...