U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton warned Thursday, Dec 6, about a new effort by oppressive governments to "re-Sovietize" much of Eastern Europe and Central Asia, taking particular aim at Russia before the meeting with the country’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, The Associated Press reports.

Speaking to a group of lawyers and civil society advocates on the sidelines of an international human rights conference, Clinton took aim at what she described as a new wave of repressive tactics and laws aimed at criminalizing U.S. outreach efforts.

"There is a move to re-Sovietize the region," Clinton lamented.

"It's not going to be called that. It's going to be called customs union, it will be called Eurasian Union and all of that," she said, referring to Russian-led efforts for greater regional integration. "But let's make no mistake about it. We know what the goal is and we are trying to figure out effective ways to slow down or prevent it."

"It's distressing that 20 years into the post-Soviet era ... so many of the hoped-for indicators of progress are retreating," Clinton said. "And the impact on individuals and organizations is becoming more oppressive."

Clinton said there is a concerted effort to eliminate both American and international assistance for human rights advocates.

The problem is compounded by America's limited influence with some governments, she added.

In Belarus, "we have struck out so far," Clinton said. Ukraine, she said, is "one of our biggest disappointments." And in Turkmenistan, the U.S. raises human rights issues all the time. "We get no response," she said.