Russia posts on Internet documents concerning World War II massacre of Polish officers

Russia posts some Katyn documents on Internet

MOSCOW — Russia’s state archives have posted documents on the Internet concerning the World War II massacre of 20,000 Polish officers and other prominent citizens.

Poland has been calling for full access to the archives in a case that looms large in Polish history and has soured relations between the two countries for decades.

The documents were posted on the orders of President Dmitry Medvedev amid indications of a new willingness in Russia to accept responsibility for the killings at Katyn and elsewhere in 1940.

But while the step was likely to be seen as a positive gesture, the documents posted Wednesday were made public long ago. They confirm that Soviet leader Josef Stalin and other members of his regime ordered the executions.

Many more documents remain classified.