Defendants being tried for last year's riots in the Russian Karelian community of Kondopoga have only partially admitted their guilt, says the news agency Ria Novosti.
Clashes took place between local residents and people of the Caucasus region in the paper mill town of 36,000 residents a year ago.
Twelve people are facing charges in the trial, which began on Monday. Only one of them denied committing any violations.
Some of the defendants admitted to taking part in damaging property, but disputed the prosecutor's claim that they had "taken part in mass-unrest".
The defendants also disagreed with prosecutors' assessments of the monetary value of the damage. The prosecution has estimated the damage at 4.6 million roubles, or about EUR 132,000.
The rioting started when a crowd of several hundred drunken Russians attacked Chechen personnel at the Chaika restaurant. They also attacked stores and a furniture workshop.
Two Russian men were killed in the fighting.
There were calls from the local people to expel all those from the Caucasus from the town. The locals were helped by a hard-line nationalist group in Moscow.
Two Russian men have already been given jail sentences of three and a half years, and eight months for starting the restaurant fight.
A homicide trial linked with the case is still underway; one Chechen is charged with two murders, and five others are charged with hooliganism and endangering people's health.
