Leaders mark Auschwitz liberation 70 years on without Putin

In this Saturday, Jan. 24, 2015 photo Paula Lebovics, an 81-year-old Holocaust survivor points to a photo showing herself as a child and other children at the Auschwitz-Birkenau Nazi death camp pictured after the camp was liberated by the Soviet Red Army, at the POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews, in Warsaw. Lebovics was 11 at that time. (AP Photo/Alik Keplicz) In this Saturday, Jan. 24, 2015 photo Paula Lebovics, an 81-year-old Holocaust survivor points to a photo showing herself as a child and other children at the Auschwitz-Birkenau Nazi death camp pictured after the camp was liberated by the Soviet Red Army, at the POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews, in Warsaw. Lebovics was 11 at that time. (AP Photo/Alik Keplicz)

By Associated Press January 27, 2015 1 min read

OSWIECIM, Poland (AP) – Holocaust survivors and world leaders are preparing to mark the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz by the Soviet Red Army, but Russian President Vladimir Putin will not be among those present.

Poland apparently snubbed Putin, failing to send him an invitation. Poland’s government is extremely critical of Russian actions in Ukraine. The Russian delegation will be led by Sergei Ivanov, Putin’s chief of staff.

Among the leaders to attend are the presidents of Germany and Austria, as well as French President Francois Hollande and others.