The leader of a Moscow-based human rights group has been pelted with eggs at close range during a press conference in the Russian capital.

Head of the Committee Against Torture Igor Kalyapin was speaking out against an order to impose “collective punishment” against family members of alleged militants in Chechnya.

Those throwing the eggs are believed to be supporters of Chechnya’s leader Ramzan Kadyrov, who is backed by the Kremlin.

The onslaught began when Kalyapin accused the Chechan leader of defying the Russian constitution. At this point, the men stormed into the room, accused the activist of “defending criminals” and threw eggs at Kalyapin and his colleague from a range of around a metre.