Four Russian nationalist groups are to form a new coalition in a bid to become a mainstream political force. The quartet signed a pact to unite as the Russian National Movement at a meeting in a Moscow hotel on Sunday.

But the deal was made amid rowdy scenes from rival groups as sex toys were hurled on stage during one of the speeches.

The new coalition will be comprised of the Great Russia political party, the Movement Against Illegal Immigration (DPNI), the Russian Liberation Movement (known as Narod) and the Russian Public Movement.

The leader of the DPNI, Aleksandr Belov, addressed the meeting with a speech stressing the value of cooperation.

“Our stakes must rise,” he said. “And we must unite and consolidate to ensure this. Generally we have found mutual understanding, and must put our small stakes together to become a strong political force.”

He said that Russia should “be nationalistic or it will cease to exist”.

Among the coalition’s ambitious plans is to take part in a parliamentary election.

The group has agreed to monitor cases of Russophobia, foster greater co-operatation and exchange information.  

Before the meeting, a pro-Kremlin youth group staged a protest rally outside the conference venue, Moscow’s Cosmos Hotel. Young Russia held banners and distributed leaflets claiming that the new nationalists are sponsored by “overseas moneybags”.

Later, an unknown group threw sex toys on the stage where the DPNI leader was giving a speech. They were immediately escorted from the conference hall by security.