Ukrainian SS veteran honored
After Nazi scandal – Canada’s parliamentary speaker resigns
September 26, 2023, 10:18 p.m
Listen to article
This audio version was artificially generated. More info | Send feedback
Last week Volodymyr Zelensky visited Canada. After the Ukrainian president’s speech, the speaker of the parliament there honored a veteran from the Second World War – but he was in the Waffen-SS. Now Rota is drawing conclusions.
The President of the Canadian House of Commons has resigned after severe criticism of his tribute to a former Waffen-SS soldier. “The work of Parliament is more important than any of us. That’s why I have to resign as Speaker of Parliament,” said Anthony Rota in the House of Commons in Ottawa. “I deeply regret my mistake.”
Numerous MPs and government members had previously called for Rota to resign. “What happened is unacceptable. It was embarrassing for the House of Commons and Canadians,” said Foreign Minister Melanie Joly.
Last Friday, Rota honored an SS veteran during Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s visit to parliament. He called 98-year-old Ukrainian immigrant Jaroslav Hunka a “Ukrainian-Canadian war veteran” who fought for Ukraine’s independence against Russia. However, according to the organization Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center (FSWC), he failed to mention that Hunka served in a Waffen-SS unit during the Second World War.
Hunka was present in the chamber and received thunderous applause, according to the statement. According to the FSCW, Hunka served in the 14th Waffen-Grenadier Division of the SS, also known as the Waffen-SS-Division Galizien. The SS, which was classified as a criminal organization at the Nuremberg Trials after the end of the war, had national associations in many occupied countries that were involved in war crimes.