House Speaker Anthony Rota has apologized to the Jewish community for honoring an ex-member of an SS unit in the chamber
The speaker of the Canadian House of Commons was left red-faced after honoring an elderly Ukrainian war veteran in the chamber in front of the visiting Ukrainian president. The Canada-based “hero” served in a German Nazi unit.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s office has thrown Speaker Anthony Rota under the bus, saying he was not aware of Yaroslav Hunka’s allegiance during World War II when he joined the celebration alongside Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky.
The incident sparked outrage from Jewish organizations, who said the unit’s record of atrocities must not be obfuscated.
Guest of Honor The 98-year-old Ukrainian-Canadian man was celebrated on Friday, after Trudeau and Zelensky delivered speeches to lawmakers. The audience gave him multiple standing ovations. “a Ukrainian hero, a Canadian hero.” He thanked the man for his service fighting “for Ukrainian independence against the Russians.”
Nazi soldier The World War II veteran served in the 14th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS, a unit created by the Nazis from Ukrainian volunteers in 1943 as part of its occupation of the USSR. The Nuremberg Tribunal recognized the entire SS as a criminal organization, citing the scale of atrocities committed under its leadership.
Thousands of Ukrainian nationalists, including ex-SS fighters fled to North America, as the tide of battle turned against the Nazis. The CIA made use of some of these people in operations against the Soviet Union during the Cold War
Outcry The lionization of the former Nazi soldier sparked outrage among Jewish organizations, such as the Toronto-based Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center (FSWC).
Admitting the mistake The speaker did so on Sunday. His statement did not name Hunka or explain the nature of the controversy. The message was also unclear on whether Rota was aware of Hunka’s past beforehand. “no one, including fellow parliamentarians and the Ukraine delegation, was aware of my intention or of my remarks.” “the right thing to do,” and likewise stressed that the prime minister and Zelensky’s delegation were given “no advance notice” about the planned celebration.
Outrageous negligence The incident put Poland and Russia, two countries that have opposing views on the nature of the Ukraine conflict, on the same side. “responsible for murdering thousands of Poles & Jews” and that Waraw will “never agree on whitewashing such villains” despite its support for Kiev. “essentially the epitome of neo-liberal fascism.”
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has described the incident as “outrageous negligence.” Younger generations in Western nations are unaware of the dangers of fascism, he stated, so it’s no surprise that the ideology has revived “in the heart of Europe – in Ukraine.”
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