The bending of the channel of laser destruction in metals and dielectrics is observed experimentally. The plane of bending is proved to be perpendicular to the polarization plane of the incident laser beam. It is shown that the bending is a result of the polarization dependence of the light reflectivity from the surface of the channel, but not of the intensity asymmetry in the beam crossection. Such asymmetry is essential for the choice of direction of bending in its plane only. The experimental results are substantiated by the theory of light reflectivity from absorbing media, they are in qualitative and quantitative accordance with each other.© (1998) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.