Moscow/IBNS: Award-winning Russian investigative journalist Elena Milashina was brutally attacked in the restive republic of Chechnya. Milashina, known for her fearless reporting on human rights abuses in the region, is currently in a "difficult" condition in a Moscow hospital, according to her editor at Novaya Gazeta.

The assault on Milashina, who had been on a work trip to the volatile southern region of Russia, has sparked international outrage.

Human rights organizations and press freedom advocates expressed deep concern after she revealed that she was beaten and held at gunpoint along with a lawyer during her visit.

Dmitry Muratov, the editor of Novaya Gazeta, revealed the severity of Milashina's injuries, stating that she had been severely beaten with a stick. He further explained that her fingers were broken, and the attackers had demanded access to her phone, reported AFP.

A video released by the newspaper showed Milashina in the hospital with her head shaved and her hands bandaged, while Human Rights Watch reported that the assailants had also poured green-colored dye over her.

Milashina's courageous reporting has focused on exposing rights abuses in Chechnya, which is governed by Ramzan Kadyrov, a former warlord. The region has been known for its turbulent history and ongoing conflict.

Novaya Gazeta, renowned for its investigative journalism, has suffered its fair share of tragedy, with six journalists and contributors killed since 2000. Among them was Anna Politkovskaya, an investigative reporter who was shot dead in Moscow on President Vladimir Putin's birthday.

The Kremlin and Chechnya's leader, Ramzan Kadyrov, have both expressed the need to identify those responsible for the attack on Milashina. However, concerns remain about the safety of journalists and the state of press freedom in Russia.