WARSAW, Poland (AP) A European court has avoided ruling on a case involving Russia, Poland and a massacre of Poles during World War II, sparking criticism from Poland.
The European Court of Human Rights said Monday that due to legal technicalities it was "not competent" or in a position to assess the adequacy of Russia's 1990-2004 investigation into the killings of thousands of Polish officers by the Soviets in 1940 in Katyn forest and elsewhere.
Victims' relatives took Russia to court over Moscow's decision to discontinue the probe, which could have revealed the perpetrators in the case, which has strained bilateral relations.
Polish Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski called the court's announcement "disappointing." He says the government will continue to support the relatives in their drive to reveal the full truth.
