By Rand Paul
Obama acts as though we no longer have a Constitution
Governments and rights organizations are decrying raids by Russian authorities on more than 2,000 international and domestic advocacy groups, what observers say is an unprecedented campaign to silence critics of the Kremlin.
As Azerbaijan prepares to host the 2012 Eurovision Song Contest next week, advocates say now is the time to increase pressure on the former Soviet republic for its human rights abuses.
"The bigger fear is that this is just round one, and that, after the smearing, the forced closures will come," said John Dalhuisen, Europe and Central Asia director at Amnesty International.
Russia's Putin cracking down on variety of advocacy groups →
"The international media attention the contest will bring seems to be no deterrent for Baku's police, who continue to use brute force to put down peaceful protests," said John Dalhuisen, Amnesty International's Europe and Central Asia program director.
