Two men face charges in Russian dancers' case

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) -- A Chugiak man and a Russian have been jailed after being charged with lying to get Russian dancers into Alaska for ''cultural'' performances that turned out to be stripping at an Anchorage nightclub.

Immigration agents arrested Tony Kennard of Chugiak on Tuesday on a felony count of aiding and abetting preparation of false visa applications for the seven women. They range in age from 16 to 30.

Kennard told the Immigration and Naturalization Service that he brought the women to Alaska to perform Russian folk dances at a series of events at Anchorage, Eagle River and Homer.

The day before, federal agents arrested Viktor Virchenko at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport as he tried to return to Russia from Anchorage with three of the women.

The four others had been taken into custody after INS agents observed them dancing nude and accepting tips from customers at the nightclub, agents said.

Virchenko also has been charged with a single count of lying about the true nature of the women's visits to the United States.

An affidavit suggests that still more charges may be filed, although the nightclub has not been charged with any violations.

So far the INS investigation has produced evidence that ''these women and others were brought to the United States for purposes other than exhibiting their cultural heritage in the form of folk dances, but rather to be placed in involuntary servitude and coerced into dancing for money,'' INS agent Stefanie Vetter said.

The women described Virchenko as a dance instructor in Krasnodar, Russia, a city of about 700,000 in southern Russia near the Black Sea. One of the dancers, Anastassia Goudimova, said Virchenko first suggested in early October that she find about 10 women who were willing to come to Alaska to dance in folk festivals.

The women said they rehearsed folk dances and ''contemporary rhythm dances'' with Virchenko at his dance studio.

Once in Alaska, however, they were taken to the Crazy Horse, Vetter's affidavit said.

''They further stated that they were shocked when told they would be dancing in a strip club.''

At first the women performed only Russian folk dances, clothed in traditional costumes.

They would then change into ''stripper clothes'' and circulate among the patrons performing table dances for tips.

Within days, ''they were encouraged by Kennard and Virchenko to dance topless and then nude,'' the affidavit said.

The women never were taken to perform at any genuine cultural event, the INS said.

All seven of the women are considered victims, and are being looked after by the INS, said Robert Eddy, director of the agency for Alaska.