A Russian investigative journalist known for her work on human rights was severely beaten and badly injured, along with a lawyer, on Tuesday morning in an attack in Chechnya, according to a statement from her newspaper.

Elena Milashina, a journalist with Novaya Gazeta who uncovered the torture and killings of gay men in Chechnya, was in Grozny to cover the trial of Zarema Musayeva, the mother of exiled opposition activists, according to the newspaper. Milashina and the attorney, Alexander Nemov, who is representing Musayeva, were accosted by masked men who beat them with clubs, took their phones and demanded that they unlock the phones, according to Novaya Gazeta.

Milashina suffered brain injuries, her fingers were broken and she repeatedly lost consciousness, the statement said. Nemov was stabbed, according to the newspaper. Equipment and documents were also destroyed.

A photo posted by the newspaper showed the journalist sitting on a hospital gurney with her hands bandaged up to her wrists and most of her hair shaved off. Noyava Gazeta said it was publishing the photo with her permission.

Reporters Without Borders, which tracks violence against journalists, said it was “horrified by the savage attack” on Milashina.

New York Times News Service