Trial in Kondopoga: alleged riots instigator's case returned to the prosecutors

The court has decided that Sergei Mozgalyov accused of instigating ethnic riots in the town of Kondopoga in the north-west of Russia near the border with Finland should stand trial with a second defendant.

This man is also accused of being involved in the fight which sparked the clashes.

As a result the case of Mr Mozgalyov has been returned to prosecutors.

He was the first of the defendants to go before a court over the unrest in course of which two Russians were killed during a brawl at a local restaurant.

The resulting violence forced dozens of immigrants to flee their homes to search for safety.