Putin won't celebrate the liberation of Auschwitz, claims he 'wasn't invited'

(Image credit: Harry Engels/Getty Images)

Vladimir Putin is pulling the passive-aggressive card by saying he won't attend a ceremony in Poland to mark the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz because he "hasn't received any invitation," The Associated Press reports.

The ceremony's organizers said specific invites weren't sent out, but nations funding the memorial site — including Russia — were asked if they would send representatives. AP speculates that Putin's snub is likely tied to the crisis in Ukraine, as Poland has been quite outspoken against Russia's annexation of the Crimean Peninsula. Putin attended the 60th anniversary in 2005.

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Teresa Mull