Speaker of Canada’s Parliament apologizes for paying tribute to Nazi soldier during session with Zelensky | World

Zelensky visits Canada

On Friday (22), a session took place at the Canadian Chamber of Deputies to welcome Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. During the session, parliamentarians, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada and guests applauded a man of Ukrainian descent who fought in a Nazi unit during World War II.

The man, Yaroslav Hunka, now 98 years old, was in the gallery of Parliament.

Parliament Speaker Anthony Rota, unaware that Hunka had served in a Nazi unit during World War II, declared that he was “a Ukrainian hero and a Canadian hero, and we thank him for his service.”

Volodymyr Zelensky and Justin Trudeau at the Parliament of Canada on September 22, 2023 — Photo: Blair Gable/Reuters

Those in the room then gave the man who fought for the Nazis a standing ovation.

According to the BBC, during World War II, thousands of Ukrainians fought for the Nazis, but many more joined the Soviet-led Red Army, which was the main army of the Allies.

Cija, an organized group of Canadian Jews, said it was very problematic that a Nazi would be honored.

Russia also criticized the invitation to Hunka.

Anthony Rota, the Speaker of Parliament, apologized for the incident. He said that after the tribute he learned about Hunka’s past and regretted his decision.

Trudeau, the Prime Minister, said this Monday (25) that the story is very embarrassing

Megan Schneider

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