Journalists investigating the abuse of gay men in Chechnya have made a gruesome discovery.

Respected newspaper Novaya Gazeta originally reported that gay men were being held in two concentration camp style prisons in the region.

Reports initially centred on two jails in the villages of Argun and Tsotsi-Yurt.

However journalists from the area now say they have uncovered evidence of a further four prisons, meaning there are at least six prisons in the region holding people because of their sexual orientation.

The newspaper also claims that the men, who face torture in jail, are only released once their families offer bribes to police.

Editors of Russian newspaper have since said they fear that the “entire staff” on the paper are at serious risk after they uncovered the gay purge in Chechnya.

The paper’s staff have said that hundreds of gay men had been detained and some killed in the region of Russia.

Since breaking the story the staff have received serious threats to their lives.