BISHKEK: Kyrgyz ex-president Almazbek Atambayev, who faces a litany of accusations including organising murder and civil unrest, failed to appear Friday at the opening of his trial, his lawyer said, reports AFP.

The 63-year-old former ally of President Sooronbai Jeenbekov was detained by police during a summer of political turmoil in the volatile Central Asian country but has refused to cooperate with investigators or the court in Bishkek.