Canadian PM lambasts ‘deeply embarrassing’ standing ovation for ex-Nazi soldier

Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau lambasted his parliament for its “deeply embarrassing” standing ovation for former Nazi soldier on Friday. 

Yaroslav Hunka, 98, was introduced in the House of Commons lower chamber by Speaker, Anthony Rota, who called him a “Ukrainian hero.”

Hunka received standing ovations by parliament members due to his role in fighting for Ukrainian independence against Russia.

But the “First Ukrainian Division” which Hunka was part of was also known as the Waffen-SS Galicia Division and fell under command of Nazi Germany.

Rota later apologised for his praise of the former Nazi soldier, saying he had become aware of “more information which causes me to regret my decision to do so.”

Trudeau harshly criticised the event, saying: “The speaker has acknowledged his mistake and has apologised, but this is something that is deeply embarrassing to the parliament of Canada and by extension, to all Canadians, I think particularly of Jewish MPs and all members of the Jewish community across the country who are celebrating, commemorating Yom Kippur today.”

“I think it’s going to be really important that all of us push back against Russian propaganda, Russian disinformation, and continue our steadfast and unequivocal support for Ukraine as we did last week with announcing further measures to stand with Ukraine in Russia’s illegal war against it,” he added.

The incident was also criticised by the Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center for Holocaust Studies, which said that Rota’s remarks ignored “the horrific fact that Hunka served in the 14th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS, a Nazi military unit whose crimes against humanity during the Holocaust are well-documented… (It) was responsible for the mass murder of innocent civilians with a level of brutality and malice that is unimaginable,” according to Times of Israel.