Akhmat Bakiyev, one of ousted Kyrgyz president Kurmanbek Bakiyev's younger brothers, went on trial Wednesday.
He is facing a total of 11 criminal charges, including organization of mass riots, incitement of ethnic strife, organization of illegal armed groups, extortion, and illegal acquisition and possession of firearms.
The "shadow governor" of the Jalalabad region was detained on July 21.
He immediately confessed to involvement in the June clashes between ethnic Kyrgyz and minority Uzbeks in the south of Kyrgyzstan, Bakiyev's former stronghold, which left hundreds dead and forced hundreds of thousands to flee their homes.
Kyrgyz officials say the real death toll exceeded 2,000.
Kurmanbek Bakiyev fled Kyrgyzstan for Belarus in April amid large-scale opposition protests that brought interim leader Roza Otunbayeva to power. Belarus has twice refused to extradite the exiled president.
The Kyrgyz government has accused him of abuse of power, corruption and ordering the shooting of civilians during the coup. Bakiyev has denied the charges.
MOSCOW, December 15 (RIA Novosti)
