PERTURBED GAUGED WZNW MODELS

We discuss a new type of unitary perturbations around conformal theori es inspired by the sigma-model perturbation of the nonunitary WZNW mod el. We show that the nonunitary level k WZNW model perturbed by its si gma model term goes to the unitary level -k WZNW model. When plugged i nto the gauged WZNW model the given perturbation results in the pertur bed gauged WZNW model which no longer describes a coset construction. We consider the BRST invariant generalization of the sigma model pertu rbation around the gauged WZNW model. In this way we obtain perturbed coset constructions. In the case of the SUm-2(2)xSU(1)(2)/SUm-1(2) cos et, the BRST invariant sigma model perturbation is identical to Zamolo dchikov's Phi((3,1)) perturbation of the minimal conformal series. The existence of general geometry flows is clarified.