Dissident Russian rockers held in Thailand fly to Israel: band

The band members of Bi-2 were held last week after they played a gig on Phuket, a southern island popular with Russian holidaymakers. - AP

BANGKOK: A dissident Russian-Belarusian rock band held in Thailand on immigration charges have left the kingdom to fly to Israel, according to a post Thursday (Feb 1) on the group's official Facebook page.

Bi-2 have criticised Russian President Vladimir Putin and the war in Ukraine, and their arrest sparked fears they would be deported to Russia where they would face persecution.