ROSTOV-ON-DON, May 13 (RAPSI) - The North Caucasus District Military Court has started hearing the case of terrorism suspect Ali Taziyev, who is accused of attacking Ingush President Yunus-Bek Yevkurov.

Taziyev is one of the leaders of the Caucasus militant group called The Caucasus Emirate. Although admitting to owning illegal weapons and organizing an extrenmist group, he denied any involvement with the actual attacks.

The court has taken extra security measures, bolstering the bailiff group and placing snipers along the perimeter of the building.

Taziyev, known as "Magas," has been accused of 24 terrorist attacks in a case involving over 600 victims and over 400 witnesses. His charges include 15 different articles of the Criminal Code, such as setting up illegal armed groups, organizing an armed riot, illegal arms dealing, weapon manufacturing, homicide, terrorism, and attacking a law enforcement official.

The investigators believe that Taziyev has masterminded, planned and directed terrorist acts and attacks against individuals and companies and has financed attacks and recruited fighters.

Taziyev's gangs are thought to have blown up a commuter bus in southern town of Nevinnomyssk in December 2007, killing three people and injuring 17, and to have bombed the Nazran District police department in Russia's Republic of Ingushetia in August 2009, killing 21 and injuring 289). They are also suspected of trying to assassinate the region's leader, Yunus-Bek Yevkurov. Two of his bodyguards were killed in the attack, while Yevkurov and one other person were injured.