Musicians face spying charges

Press, 2 July 1985, Page 10

Musicians face spying charges

NZPA-Reuter Moscow Two members of the unofficial Georgian musical group, Phantom, would today be charged by the K.G.B. security police with spying, a capital offence, said another member of the group. Eduard Gudava said that the latest move against Phantom followed K.G.B. searches of seven apartments on Friday. Since then, two band members had disappeared, he said. Isai Goldshtein, aged 47, a computer specialist, Eduard and his brother, Tengiz, were among nine people questioned for three hours on Saturday. Tengiz and another man were kept at the K.G.B.’s central Tbilisi prison. Mr Gudava said Goldshtein was told by Colonel Marian Nashivili, of the K.G.R.; to report with, “clothes SJjtable for prison”

today when he and Tengiz would be arrested and charged with treason. Colonel Nashivili accused Goldshtein of long involvement in espionage and of meeting United States and British diplomats, Western correspondents and tourists, Gudava said. •

Phantom comprises Jews refused exit visas, Christians and human rights activists. Earlier this month a United States diplomat attended a concert by the band, which plays all kinds of music from traditional Georgian folk to Beatles tunes. In May, four American musicians were expelled after they played with Phantom at a private flat in Tbilisi. Mr Gudava said the authorities were determined to close down the group because of its contacts jSnth foreigners.