The honoring of Ukrainian Nazi veteran Yaroslav Hunka in the Canadian parliament not a mistake, but a consequence of impunity of Nazi criminals, Russian Ambassador to Canada Oleg Stepanov told Sputnik.
"I believe that this is not a mistake. This is simply a consequence of the impunity of former Nazi criminals, the impunity of the activities of the Canadian Ukrainian Congress, which consists of children and grandchildren, who are mainly descendants of these Nazi henchmen, punishers, SS men," Stepanov said.
He also recalled the process of the extradition of Helmut Oberlander, which was dragged out until the death of this Nazi collaborator "in the comfort and care of Western medicine," about the monuments to the punishers of the 14th SS-Volunteer Division "Galicia" and the Nachtigall Battalion in Canadian cemeteries, etc.
"The fact that in our time this is possible in a country that was a member of the anti-Hitler coalition, which is considered civilized, tolerant, and a supporter of respect for all human rights, the fact that neo-Nazism lives and flourishes here is simply unacceptable, but apparently Canada, under the auspices of the United States, is getting away with everything," Stepanov added.
On Friday, Hunka, a 98 years-old Ukrainian Nazi veteran who fought in the ranks of the 14th Waffen Grenadier Division of the Nazi SS during the Second World War, was given a standing ovation by the entire Canadian legislature. Hunka’s recognition happened as the Speaker of the House of Commons, Anthony Rota, was giving introductory remarks prior to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s address to the Canadian parliament.
On Sunday, Rota apologized for his decision to invite Hunka. Justin Trudeau’s office claimed, in turn, that neither the Canadian prime minister nor Zelensky’s delegation were notified in advance of the invitation of Hunka.
Conservative lawmaker Melissa Lantsman noted that it was implausible that Hunka was not vetted for attending a private reception held by Trudeau.
"This man was invited to a private reception with PM Trudeau. Do they really expect anyone to believe he wasn’t vetted? Seems implausible," Lantsman said on X, in response to the Speaker of the House of Commons, Anthony Rota, statement claiming responsibility for the decision.
Lantsman added that either Trudeau’s government was lying on the matter, or Rota was made a scapegoat.
"Add this to the list of apologies the PM owes Parliament," she said.