Yaroslav Hunka scandal explained

On 22 September 2023, Yaroslav Hunka, a Ukrainian Canadian who fought in the SS Division Galicia of the military wing of the Nazi Party, the Waffen-SS, was invited to the House of Commons of Canada to be recognized by Speaker Anthony Rota, the Member of Parliament for Hunka's district. Hunka received two standing ovations from all house members, including Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau, other party leaders, and visiting Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Hunka's membership in the Waffen-SS was reported initially by The Forward, which quoted a tweet by the academic Ivan Katchanovski.[1] The story was picked up by the Canadian media, receiving international attention.

The incident, seen as a political blunder[2] [3] and a scandal, such that it drew comparisons to the most embarrassing moments in Canada's history, was leveraged by the Russian establishment to further its justifications for waging war in Ukraine, which had been started under a pretext of "denazification", among other stated reasons. Rota resigned as speaker five days later, and the House unanimously adopted a motion to condemn Nazism and withdraw its recognition of Hunka. Prime Minister Trudeau and Canadian government officials apologized to the worldwide Jewish community. The handling of suspected World War II war criminals in Canada became a renewed matter of public interest.

Background

Yaroslav Hunka

Yaroslav Hunka
Native Name Lang:uk
Birth Date:19 March 1925[4]
Birth Place:Urmań, Poland
(now Urman, Ternopil Oblast, Ukraine)
Allegiance:Nazi Germany
Branch:Waffen-SS
Serviceyears:1943–1945
Unit:SS Division Galicia
Battles:
Battles Label:War
Awards:Honorary Citizen of Berezhany (2004)
Badge "for Merits to Ternopil Region" (2024)

Yaroslav Ilkovych Hunka (Ukrainian: Ярослав Ількович Гунька, ; born 1925) is a Ukrainian-Canadian World War II veteran of the 14th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS (1st Galician)—abbreviated as SS Galizien—a military formation of Nazi Germany. Hunka was born in Urman,[5] Second Polish Republic (now Ukraine).[6] In 1943, Hunka volunteered to join German: SS Galizien at 18 years old. According to Hunka, his reason for enlisting was following the call of the Ukrainian Central Committee to fight for the idea of "Unified Ukraine".[7] During his time in the unit, he was photographed training in Munich and Neuhammer (present day Świętoszów).[8]

In 1944, Hunka was deployed into combat against Red Army forces on the Eastern Front of World War II.[9] Dominique Arel, the chair of Ukrainian studies at the University of Ottawa, told CBC News that thousands of Ukrainian volunteers had been drawn to the division, and that many aspired doing so could help attain Ukrainian independence from the Soviet Union. According to Arel, it was "difficult to determine" whether specific groups of the division took part in atrocities, but he said that by the time Hunka's unit reached the front, German operations relating to the Holocaust would have ended in that area. He said, however, that the German: SS Galizien had been implicated in the killing of Polish civilians. In his memoir, Hunka referred to the Wehrmacht as "mystical German knights".[10]

Following the conclusion of World War II in Europe, Hunka, now a displaced person, settled in the United Kingdom and joined the Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain.[11] In 1951, he married Margaret Ann Edgerton (1931–2018), and the couple emigrated to Canada three years later, settling in Toronto, where they raised their two sons, Martin and Peter, and became active in the Ukrainian-Canadian community.[12] After graduating from a technical college, Hunka worked in the aircraft industry, eventually becoming an inspector for De Havilland. In retirement, Hunka was heavily involved in the Ukrainian community; his sons established the Yaroslav and Margaret Hunka Ukrainian Research Endowment Fund at the University of Alberta to advance academic research in the underground Ukrainian Catholic Church. On 20 August 2004, Hunka was named an Honorary Citizen of the City of Berezhany in Ukraine by the Berezhany city council.[13] In 2007, the Ukrainian Canadian Congress awarded Hunka and other former members of the German: SS Galizien the Medal of Merit.[14]

Hunka contributed to a blog by an association of German: SS Galizien veterans on the Internet in 2010 and 2011. In 2022, Hunka travelled to Greater Sudbury to protest against the Russian invasion of Ukraine that year. Describing the situation in Ukraine, Hunka told CTV News that the "Destruction is just unbelievable but it will take years and years to rebuild it, ... But Ukrainian will win and God Bless Ukraine and I pray for it." As of 2023, he was a resident of North Bay, Ontario. On 6 February 2024, the parliament of Ternopil province in Ukraine awarded Hunka with a Badge "for Merits to Ternopil Region" for his significant personal contribution to providing assistance to the Armed Forces of Ukraine, active charitable and public activities, and on the occasion of the 112th anniversary of the birth of Yaroslav Stetsko.[15]

Handling of suspected World War II war criminals in Canada

See main article: War criminals in Canada.

See also: Ratlines (World War II). In the years after World War II, Canada's permissive immigration policies enabled many alleged Nazi war criminals to settle in the country.[16] [17] [18] An especially large number of former German: SS Galizien members (relative to their total number) migrated to Canada from the United Kingdom, where they had been detained.[19] While there existed a policy of denying entry to former Nazi military personnel, members of this unit were exempted by a 1950 cabinet-level decision.[20]

In 1985, the government of Canada formed the Deschênes Commission to investigate claims that Canada had become a haven for Nazi war criminals.[21] The commission's final report was issued at the end of 1986 in two parts. It alleged that Nazi war criminals had immigrated to Canada and in some cases were still residing in the country,[22] and recommended changes to criminal and citizenship law to allow Canada to prosecute war criminals. The second part of the final report, which concerns allegations against specific individuals, and contains an appendix listing 240 individuals suspected of war crimes, has never been made public. German: SS Galizien was a significant topic of the investigation; according to the report, "Charges of war crimes against members of the Galicia Division have never been substantiated."

Canada subsequently enacted war crimes legislation by amending the Criminal Code to enable Canadian courts to adjudicate cases of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed outside Canada.[23] The only individual to be prosecuted under this legislation for his actions in relation to Nazi war crimes was Imre Finta,[24] [25] who was acquitted in 1990. In 1994, after several similar cases in which charges had been dropped, Canada said it would no longer prosecute Nazi war criminals.[26] [27]

Canadian response to the Russo-Ukrainian War

After the February 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, Canada sanctioned Russia, and sent weapons to Ukraine.[28] An important element of Russia's pretext for the invasion was Ukraine's "denazification".[29] [30] On 8 May 2022, Canada's prime minister Justin Trudeau made a surprise visit to Kyiv to meet with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy.[31] Zelenskyy himself would make a surprise visit to Canada on 22 September 2023 (his first since the invasion), and speak to the House of Commons.[32]

Volodymyr Zelenskyy's House of Commons of Canada visit

After Zelenskyy's visit became publicly known, the constituency office of Anthony Rota, the speaker of the House of Commons, was contacted by Yaroslav Hunka's son Martin Hunka, a resident of Rota's district of Nipissing—Timiskaming, with a request for his father to be present in the Parliament during the address.[33] Rota accepted the request.[34] [35] According to a later statement by the government house leader, Karina Gould, he did so without informing the government or the Ukrainian delegation.[36]

On 22 September 2023, Rota recognized Hunka's presence in the chamber, saying: "We have here in the chamber today a Ukrainian Canadian war veteran from the Second World War who fought for Ukrainian independence against the Russians and continues to support the troops today even at his age of 98."[37] [38] Rota further praised Hunka, asserting: "He is a Ukrainian hero, a Canadian hero, and we thank him for all his service."[39] After Rota's praise, the chamber gave two standing ovations to Hunka, which Zelenskyy and his wife also joined.[40]

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also invited Hunka to attend a rally in Toronto for Zelenskyy's visit. The Ukrainian Canadian Congress had nominated Hunka to attend, but he did not go to the event.[41]

Aftermath

Reactions

Reactions to the celebration of Hunka were negative and generated international headlines. The Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center for Holocaust Studies said that Hunka's unit's "crimes against humanity during the Holocaust are well-documented",[42] and condemned SS Galizien as "responsible for the mass murder of innocent civilians with a level of brutality and malice that is unimaginable", referencing events such as the 1944 Huta Pieniacka massacre of Polish civilians. In a statement released on 24 September, Rota accepted responsibility for inviting Hunka to the ceremony,[43] stating that he "particularly want[ed] to extend [his] deepest apologies to Jewish communities in Canada and around the world" and accepting "full responsibility" for the incident.[44] Ann-Clara Vaillancourt, a spokeswoman for Trudeau, called Rota's apology "the right thing to do" and emphasized Rota's responsibility for inviting Hunka to the ceremony.[45]

Prime Minister Trudeau said, "This is a mistake that deeply embarrassed parliament and Canada" and apologized to President Zelenskyy. Leader of the Opposition Pierre Poilievre called it the "biggest single diplomatic embarrassment" in Canadian history.[46]

The event renewed interest in the topic of the handling of suspected war criminals who immigrated to Canada, and led to calls to declassify the second part of the Deschênes Commission's report.[47] Canadian politician and human rights advocate Irwin Cotler, who was chief counsel to the Canadian Jewish Congress at the Deschênes Commission,[48] said on behalf of the Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights: "While the apologies are necessary and welcome, it raises a larger question. How did Yaroslav Hunka, a notorious Nazi war criminal, enter Canada to begin with? How is it that he was never held accountable?"[49] [50]

On 27 September, the interim provost of the University of Alberta announced it would close the Hunka Ukrainian Research Endowment Fund and return its approximately CA$30,000 to Hunka's sons, saying that the university "recognizes and regrets the unintended harm caused."[51] [52] [53]

The president of the Ukrainian National Federation of Canada defended Hunka and stated that there was nothing wrong with the Canadian Parliament applauding a man "who fought for his country", although acknowledging in the circumstances "this may not have been correct".[54] The Ukrainian Canadian Congress said in a statement that there were "difficult and painful pages in the common history of the communities that have taken up residence in Ukraine" and said it recognized that "recent events that have brought these pages to the forefront have caused pain and anguish". President Zelenskyy did not comment on the incident.[55]

Following the incident, an image of a fake Ukrainian postage stamp featuring Hunka was shared on Twitter by multiple users,[56] including the Russian embassy in the U.K.[57] [58] [59] According to James L. Turk, Russian responses were designed to cause their conduct of war in Ukraine to appear more legitimate. He called the scandal "a gold mine for Russian propagandists".[60] According to Marcus Kolga of the Macdonald–Laurier Institute, the scandal has had an effect of damaging Canada's reputation abroad, and Russia is aiming to amplify this effect through propaganda.[61]

In the days following the scandal several neo-Nazis laid flowers on the SS Galicia monument in Oakville, Ontario. On social media they thanked Hunka and said the SS division fought to defend Europe from "the Asiatic-Communist pestilence". Those actions were condemned by Jewish groups and renewed their demands for the demolition of the memorial.[62]

In a speech on 5 October 2023 at the annual meeting of the Valdai Discussion Club Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that the fact that Hunka was applauded by President Zelenskyy was "a sign of the Nazification of Ukraine" and: "This is precisely why it is necessary to denazify Ukraine."[63] He further said that Rota "essentially lumped together Nazi collaborators, SS troops and the Ukrainian military of today", which "only confirms [Russia's] thesis that one of [Russia's] goals in Ukraine is denazification".[64] Asked to comment, deputy prime minister of Canada Chrystia Freeland responded by saying that Putin was being effective at "weaponizing [the] mistake", urged the Canadian public to be cautious of Russian propaganda and to "push back very, very hard at everything Vladimir Putin says", and reiterated that actions causing Hunka to be recognized in the Parliament were a "terrible mistake".[65] [66]

In the wake of the controversy, Hunka's family were reported to have gone into hiding in their hometown of North Bay, and did not respond to interview requests.[67] Hunka's daughter-in-law was quoted as saying her family was "shocked at what happened"; according to a family friend, they had not known in advance that Hunka would be publicly recognized by the House Speaker, and had only expected "he would be in the same room" as President Zelenskyy.

Rota's resignation and House motion

On 26 September, Rota announced his resignation over the controversy.[68] [69] The day prior, government house leader Karina Gould had filed a motion to strike the recognition of Hunka from the official record. The motion ignited heated debate and failed to gain the necessary unanimous support.[70] [71] On 26 September, the House of Commons unanimously adopted a motion by Yves-François Blanchet to "utterly condemn Nazism in all its forms" and express "full solidarity with all victims of Nazism, past and present." The motion also condemned the invitation extended to Hunka, and formally withdrew his recognition by the House.[72]

Discussions of extradition

On 26 September, Polish education minister Przemysław Czarnek stated in a Twitter post that he had taken steps towards the possible extradition of Hunka.[73] [74] In the post, Czarnek said: "In view of the scandalous events in the Canadian Parliament, which involved honoring a member of the criminal Nazi SS Galizien formation in the presence of President Zelenskyy, I have taken steps towards the possible extradition of this man to Poland. #NOForFalsifyingHistory!" Czarnek asked the Institute of National Remembrance to urgently research whether Hunka was wanted for "crimes against the Polish Nation and Poles of Jewish origin".[75] [76]

On 20 October, Russia's Investigative Committee said in a statement that it had charged Hunka with "genocide of civilians on the territory of the Ukrainian SSR during the Great Patriotic War", stating that Hunka and other members of the division had killed "at least 500 citizens of the USSR" in Huta Pieniacka.[77] The statement also said that investigators were considering issuing an international arrest warrant for Hunka.[78]

See also

References

Sources

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Golinkin . Lev . 2023-09-26 . Canada's House Speaker resigns over celebration of 98-year-old who fought in Nazi unit . 2023-12-27 . The Forward . en.
  2. Web site: Canada's House speaker steps down after honoring man who fought for Nazis . NBC News . 6 October 2023 . en . 26 September 2023 . 5 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231005173737/https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/canadas-house-speaker-steps-honoring-man-fought-nazis-rcna117463 . live .
  3. Web site: Isai . Vjosa . A New Speaker for Canada After a Misstep That 'Deeply Embarrassed Parliament' . The New York Times . 6 October 2023 . 30 September 2023 . 5 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231005033419/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/30/world/canada/canada-parliament-speaker-vote.html . live .
  4. News: 'Ideyno motivirovan i dukhovno soznatelen'. Chto izvestno o veterane SS, kotoromu ustroili stoyachuyu ovatsiyu v parlamente Kanady. ru:'Идейно мотивирован и духовно сознателен'. Что известно о ветеране СС, которому устроили стоячую овацию в парламенте Канады. "Ideologically motivated and spiritually conscious." What is known about the SS veteran who received a standing ovation in the Canadian Parliament. RTVI. 29 September 2023. Sochnev. Alexey. 31 October 2023.
  5. Web site: Моє покоління . My Generation . uk . Hunka . Yaroslav . 21 March 2011 . Вісті Комбатанта (Combatant's News) . 25 September 2023 . 25 September 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230925013139/https://komb-a-ingwar.blogspot.com/2011/03/blog-post_21.html . live.
  6. Web site: Sudbury hosts rally for Ukraine . Everson . Alana . 7 May 2022 . . 24 September 2023 . 6 July 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220706124902/https://northernontario.ctvnews.ca/sudbury-rally-for-ukraine-1.5893291 . live.
  7. News: Злочинці чи герої: що не так зі скандалом навколо українського ветерана Другої світової війни у канадському парламенті . Роман . Прядун . 30 September 2023 . . Ukrainian . 30 September 2023 . 30 September 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230930180204/https://www.obozrevatel.com/ukr/politics-news/zlochintsi-chi-geroi-scho-ne-tak-zi-skandalom-navkolo-ukrainskogo-veterana-drugoi-svitovoi-vijni-u-kanadskomu-parlamenti.htm . live.
  8. Web site: Zelenskyy joins Canadian Parliament's ovation to 98-year-old veteran who fought with Nazis . Golinkin . Lev . 24 September 2023 . . 24 September 2023 . 24 September 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230924124912/https://forward.com/fast-forward/561927/zelenskyy-joins-canadian-parliaments-ovation-to-98-year-old-veteran-who-fought-with-nazis/ . live.
  9. News: House Speaker apologizes for honouring Ukrainian who fought in Nazi unit in WW II . Paas-Lang . Christian . 24 September 2023 . . 24 September 2023 . 25 September 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230925000224/https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/anthony-rota-ukrainian-veteran-apology-1.6977117 . live.
  10. News: Zivo . Adam . Nazi veteran's memoir lays bare the pitfalls of nationalism . . 30 September 2023 . 7 October 2023 . 18 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231018131809/https://nationalpost.com/opinion/adam-zivo-nazi-veterans-memoir-lays-bare-the-pitfalls-of-nationalism . live .
  11. . New Endowments . CIUS Newsletter . . 2020 . 25 September 2023 . 26 September 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230926081118/https://www.ualberta.ca/canadian-institute-of-ukrainian-studies/media-library/newsletters/2020/2020-cius_newsletter-eng-optimized.pdf . live.
  12. News: Zelenskyy speaks before Canadian Parliament in his campaign to shore up support for Ukraine . Gillies . Rob . 22 September 2023 . . 24 September 2023 . 24 September 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230924033203/https://apnews.com/article/zelenskyy-trudeau-canada-ukraine-parliament-b0f23d207592031cedb030292eb3ae01 . live.
  13. Web site: Почесні громадяни м.Бережани . 28 September 2023 . berezhanymrada.gov.ua . 22 May 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210522195532/http://berezhanymrada.gov.ua/index.php/struktura/images/15.pdf . live.
  14. Web site: Ukrainian Canadian Congress . 21 January 2007 . Celebration: Days of Independence and the Secession of the Lands of Ukraine, January 22, 1918 and 1919; Honoring Ukrainian Veterans . uk . 1 October 2023 . 28 September 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230928132439/https://diasporiana.org.ua/wp-content/uploads/books/13151/file.pdf . live.
  15. News: Morgun . Iryna . 19 March 2024 . Тернопільська облрада нагородила Ярослава Гуньку, через якого пішов у відставку спікер парламенту Канади. The Ternopil Regional Council awarded Yaroslav Hunka, because of whom the Speaker of the Canadian Parliament had resigned . Ukrainian . . 19 March 2024.
  16. News: Paas-Lang . Christian . 1 October 2023 . Hunka incident spurs renewed calls for disclosure of alleged war criminal investigation records . . 1 October 2023 . 1 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231001201049/https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canada-second-world-war-immigration-documents-1.6983966 . live.
  17. Web site: Mercer . Greg . Woolf . Marie . Yaroslav Hunka said in essay that he enlisted in Nazi unit to protect homeland . . 2 October 2023 . 28 September 2023 . The sight of a former serviceman for a Nazi-commanded unit, consisting mostly of thousands of ethnic Ukrainians, being applauded in the House of Commons has created all sorts of rancour:...It’s also renewed focus on the fact that several hundred or more former members of this unit were welcomed into Canada with the government’s blessing. . 1 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231001123030/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-yaroslav-hunka-nazi-unit-essay/ . live.
  18. Web site: Brewster . Murray . After Parliament's humiliation, Canada has to reckon with its past treatment of Nazis, experts say . 2 October 2023 . . Many historians will tell you that what we've witnessed over the last several days is history coming back to bite Canada — specifically over its refusal down the decades to acknowledge or own up to the decisions that allowed Yaroslav Hunka, who served with the 14th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS (1st Galician), to immigrate to Canada in the 1950s. . 1 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231001145527/https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/hunka-parliament-rota-trudeau-nazi-1.6980562 . live.
  19. Web site: Hopper . Tristin . FIRST READING: Canada has long been slammed as a 'haven' for ex-Nazis like Yaroslav Hunka . . 4 October 2023 . 26 September 2023 . 18 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231018131809/https://nationalpost.com/opinion/first-reading-canada-has-long-been-slammed-as-a-haven-for-ex-nazis-like-yaroslav-hunka . live .
  20. Web site: Hopper . Tristin . Canada's long history of soft-pedalling the Ukrainian Waffen-SS Galicia Division . . 3 October 2023 . 25 September 2023 . 18 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231018131809/https://nationalpost.com/opinion/canadas-soft-pedalling-ukraine-ss-galicia . live .
  21. Web site: Cecco . Leyland . 'Canada has a dark history with Nazis': political scandal prompts reckoning . The Guardian . 3 October 2023 . en . 29 September 2023 . 2 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231002224522/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/sep/29/canada-nazi-history-trudeau#:~:text=%E2%80%9CCanada%20has%20a%20really%20dark,history%20we%20have%20to%20reconcile.%E2%80%9D . live .
  22. The Prosecution of War Criminals in Canada . Dalhousie Law Journal . October 1989 . 12 . 2 . 256 . Fenrick . W. . 4 October 2023 . 28 September 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230928200016/https://digitalcommons.schulichlaw.dal.ca/dlj/vol12/iss2/3/ . live .
  23. Web site: Purves . Grant . 16 October 1998 . War Criminals: The Deschênes Commission; (87-3E) . 11 February 2021 . publications.gc.ca . Government of Canada, Political and Social Affairs Division . 17 March 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190317194632/http://dsp-psd.pwgsc.gc.ca/Collection-R/LoPBdP/CIR/873-e.htm . live .
  24. Web site: 12 May 2011 . Nazi war criminals in Canada . 4 October 2023 . . 5 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231005110645/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nazi-war-criminals-in-canada-1.1026670 . live .
  25. Web site: Noakes . Taylor C. . 1 October 2023 . How did a man who fought for the Nazis get honoured in Canada? Given our history, it's a debacle that may have been inevitable . 4 October 2023 . . en . 5 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231005110645/https://www.thestar.com/news/analysis/how-did-a-man-who-fought-for-the-nazis-get-honoured-in-canada-given-our/article_786e56cf-48d6-5c20-a86b-36a317cf0793.html . live .
  26. News: Canada to Stop Prosecuting Suspected Nazi War Criminals. https://web.archive.org/web/20150924180707/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-28261364.html. dead. 24 September 2015. Edwards. Bob. John Hauber . 5 January 1994. NPR Morning Edition transcript . HighBeam Research. 3 May 2012.
  27. Web site: Massoud . Rania . 26 September 2023 . Un éminent « chasseur de nazis » dénonce l'inaction « lamentable » du Canada Radio-Canada.ca . Prominent 'Nazi hunter' denounces Canada's 'lamentable' inaction . 4 October 2023 . . fr-ca . 5 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231005110645/https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/2013203/efraim-zuroff-nazis-canada-yaroslav-hunka . live .
  28. Web site: Ljunggren . David . Zelenskiy visits Canada with thanks for aid he says helped save thousands . Reuters . 3 October 2023 . en . 23 September 2023 . 2 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231002182904/https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraines-zelenskiy-visits-close-ally-canada-after-challenges-us-trip-2023-09-22/ . live .
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    Web site: 2 March 2022 . Lavrov embodies Moscow's steely posture . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220307170150/https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-sergey-lavrov-e5d83adaee90b6d66687a6bddcabc8e2 . 7 March 2022 . AP news .
    News: 1 March 2022 . Russian actions aim to save people, demilitarize, denazify Ukraine – Lavrov . TASS . 5 October 2023 . 19 May 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220519083643/https://tass.com/politics/1414061 . live .
    News: How the Russian Media Spread False Claims About Ukrainian Nazis. Charlie Smart. The New York Times. 2 July 2022. 11 October 2022. 3 July 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220703010648/https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2022/07/02/world/europe/ukraine-nazis-russia-media.html. live.
  30. News: Coletta . Amanda . Kaur . Anumita . 25 September 2023 . Canada's House speaker Anthony Rota sorry for honoring Nazi veteran . The Washington Post . live . 4 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230925060017/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/09/24/canadian-speaker-apologizes-ukrainian-nazi/ . 25 September 2023 . Zelensky is Jewish, and many of his relatives were killed by the Nazis. His government says it has excised extremist elements from its ranks, most notably within the Azov Battalion.But Russian President Vladimir Putin has used the 'denazification' of Ukraine as a pretext for his invasion, part of a long-standing propaganda effort to sow disinformation, delegitimize Ukrainian nationalism and distort history for his political purposes..
  31. Web site: Katie . Simpson . How Justin Trudeau's people arranged his whirlwind visit to a Ukraine at war . CBC News . 9 May 2022 . 5 August 2022 . 25 July 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220725133925/https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/trudeau-zelensky-ukraine-visit-1.6447082 . live .
  32. Web site: Ukraine's President Zelenskyy makes surprise visit to Canada . euronews . 3 October 2023 . en . 22 September 2023 . 3 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231003003544/https://www.euronews.com/2023/09/22/ukraines-president-zelenskyy-makes-surprise-visit-to-canada . live .
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  34. News: House Speaker Anthony Rota apologizes after inviting man who fought for Nazis to Parliament. Ritchie. Sarah . 25 September 2023 . Originally published 24 September 2023. . 25 September 2023 . 24 September 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230924190230/https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/jewish-group-demands-apology-after-mps-honoured-man-who-fought-for-nazis-1.6575593 . live.
  35. News: Leader of Canada's House of Commons apologizes for honoring man who fought for Nazis . Gillies . Rob . 24 September 2023 . . 24 September 2023 . 25 September 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230925014002/https://apnews.com/article/canada-parliament-apology-ukraine-nazi-eedc22e1d810011c412953168a4cee46 . live.
  36. Web site: Canada's House speaker resigns over inviting man who fought for Nazis to parliament . Le Monde.fr . 3 October 2023 . en . 26 September 2023 . 2 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231002135155/https://www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2023/09/26/canada-s-house-speaker-resigns-over-inviting-man-who-fought-for-nazis-to-parliament_6140156_4.html . live .
  37. Web site: Aiello . Rachel . Canada House Speaker's Nazi veteran invite 'profoundly embarrassing' Trudeau says, as Rota faces calls to resign . www.erienewsnow.com . . 3 October 2023 . en . 25 September 2023 . 5 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231005110648/https://www.erienewsnow.com/story/49724163/canada-house-speakers-nazi-veteran-invite-profoundly-embarrassing-trudeau-says-as-rota-faces-calls-to-resign . live .
  38. Web site: Nazi-linked veteran received ovation during Zelenskyy's Canada visit . Duggan . Kyle . 24 September 2023 . . 24 September 2023 . 24 September 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230924233632/https://www.politico.com/news/2023/09/24/nazi-linked-veteran-ovation-zelenkyy-canada-visit-00117857 . live.
  39. Web site: Brugen . Isabel van . 25 September 2023 . Who is Yaroslav Hunka? Ukrainian With Nazi past honored in Canada . 26 September 2023 . Newsweek . en . 26 September 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230926121815/https://www.newsweek.com/yaroslav-hunka-nazi-ukraine-canada-parliament-1829520 . live.
  40. Web site: Kremlin says Canadian parliament should condemn Nazism . Reuters . 3 October 2023 . en . 27 September 2023 . 1 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231001012222/https://www.reuters.com/world/kremlin-says-canadian-parliament-should-condemn-nazism-2023-09-27/ . live .
  41. Web site: PM Trudeau invited veteran of Nazi unit to attend Zelenskyy rally in Toronto . Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.
  42. Web site: Giles. Keir. 2 October 2023. Fighting against the USSR didn't necessarily make you a Nazi. live. Politico. https://web.archive.org/web/20231004072624/https://www.politico.eu/article/fight-against-ussr-nazi-waffen-ss-trooper-yaroslav-hunka-world-war-ii-soviet-union-germany/. 4 October 2023. 4 October 2023.
  43. News: Canada House speaker apologizes for recognition of veteran who fought for Nazis . Schroeder . Pete . 24 September 2023 . . 24 September 2023 . 25 September 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230925025302/https://www.reuters.com/world/canada-house-speaker-apologizes-recognition-veteran-who-fought-nazis-2023-09-24/ . live.
  44. Web site: 25 September 2023 . 'Deepest apologies': Canada official backtracks after Ukraine Nazi honoured . 26 September 2023 . Al Jazeera . 26 September 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230926144123/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/9/25/canada-house-speaker-apologises-for-recognition-of-veteran-linked-to . live.
  45. News: Canadian House speaker apologizes after honoring veteran of Nazi unit . Kaur . Anumita . 24 September 2023 . . 24 September 2023 . 25 September 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230925060017/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/09/24/canadian-speaker-apologizes-ukrainian-nazi/ . live.
  46. News: Justin Trudeau apologises after Nazi veteran honoured in parliament . BBC . 27 September 2023.
  47. Web site: 4 October 2023 . Canada apologizes for honor awarded to ex-Nazi soldier in 1987 . 4 October 2023 . . en-US . Reuters . 4 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231004231945/https://www.jpost.com/international/article-761719 . live .
  48. Web site: Government of Canada . Public Services and Procurement Canada . Information archivée dans le Web . 22 July 2022 . publications.gc.ca . 22 February 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220222022339/https://publications.gc.ca/site/archivee-archived.html?url=https://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2014/bcp-pco/CP32-52-1986-1-eng.pdf . live .
  49. Web site: Statement on Yaroslav Hunka from Irwin Cotler, Special Envoy on Preserving Holocaust Remembrance and Combatting Antisemitism - Raoul Wallenberg Centre . . 4 October 2023 . en-ca . 26 September 2023 . 5 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231005074745/https://www.raoulwallenbergcentre.org/en/news/2023-09-26 . live .
  50. Web site: Bandler . Aaron . Canada's House of Commons Speaker Resigns After Honoring Man Who Fought for Nazis . Jewish Journal . 4 October 2023 . 28 September 2023.
  51. News: Zimonjic . Peter . 28 September 2023 . University of Alberta returning $30,000 donation to Yaroslav Hunka's family, closing endowment in his name . . 7 November 2023.
  52. News: Swensrude . Stephanie . 28 September 2023 . University of Alberta returns endowment to veteran of Nazi unit recognized in House of Commons . . 7 November 2023.
  53. Web site: Harpaz . Beth . 28 September 2023 . Canadian university to return donation from family of man who served in Nazi unit . 28 September 2023 . The Forward . en . 28 September 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230928040945/https://forward.com/fast-forward/562290/university-alberta-yaroslav-hunka-donation/ . live.
  54. Web site: Un groupe ukrainien défend l'ancien membre de la Waffen-SS honoré au Parlement . . 30 September 2023 . 1 October 2023 . 30 September 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230930111603/https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/2014152/groupe-ukrainien-nazi-ss-parlement . live.
  55. Web site: Canada's House Speaker resigns over celebration of 98-year-old who fought in Nazi unit . . 26 September 2023 . 28 September 2023 . 28 September 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230928040944/https://forward.com/news/562072/anthony-rota-canada-parliament-resignation-yaroslav-hunka-ovation-nazi-ss-galichina/ . live.
  56. Web site: Khatsenkova . Sophia . 4 October 2023 . Fact-check: Did Ukraine issue a stamp honouring Nazi veteran? . 5 October 2023 . Euronews . 5 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231005014723/https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2023/10/04/how-the-canadian-parliaments-nazi-scandal-fuelled-a-russian-disinformation-campaign . live .
  57. Web site: Furtado . Annet Preethi . 28 September 2023 . No, Ukraine hasn't issued postal stamps featuring Yaroslav Hunka . 29 September 2023 . . en . 30 September 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230930011027/https://www.logicallyfacts.com/en/fact-check/false-no-ukraine-hasn-t-issued-postal-stamps-featuring-yaroslav-hunka . live.
  58. Web site: Malashenko . Uliana . 27 September 2023 . Fact Check: Ukraine Did NOT Issue Stamp With Yaroslav Hunka On It – Viral Image Showed Barcode From Different Product . 29 September 2023 . . en-US . 30 September 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230930011023/https://leadstories.com/hoax-alert/2023/09/fact-check-ukraine-did-not-issue-stamp-with-yaroslav-hunka-on-it.html . live.
  59. Web site: Karadeglija . Anja . Parliament's Nazi scandal a 'top headline story' for Russian propaganda news . 29 September 2023 . 30 September 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230930011023/https://nationalpost.com/news/politics/hunka-incident-fuelling-russian-propaganda . live.
  60. Web site: Boudjikanian . Raffy . Opposition, disinfo experts push government to fight Russian propaganda in wake of Hunka incident . . 4 October 2023 . 28 September 2023 . 3 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231003200417/https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/russia-disinformation-ukraine-hunka-parliament-1.6980638 . live .
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  62. News: Neo-Nazis, white nationalists go on pilgrimage to Galicia Waffen-SS memorial . . 4 October 2023 . 5 October 2023 . 5 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231005140528/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-neo-nazis-white-nationalists-go-on-pilgrimage-to-galicia-waffen-ss/ . live .
  63. Web site: From the New World Order to coke and hand grenades Here's what Putin said at Russia's annual Valdai Discussion Club. 6 October 2023. 6 October 2023. Meduza. English. 9 October 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231009202259/https://meduza.io/en/feature/2023/10/06/from-the-new-world-order-to-coke-and-hand-grenades. live.
    Web site: Key points from Putin's speech at the Valdai Forum. 5 October 2023. 3 October 2023. RIA Novosti. Russian. 5 October 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231005144107/https://ria.ru/20231005/putin-1900586407.html. live.
  64. Web site: Putin calls Canadian parliament's applause for Nazi veteran 'disgusting' . Reuters . 5 October 2023 . en . 5 October 2023 . 6 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231006034102/https://www.reuters.com/world/putin-calls-canadian-parliaments-applause-nazi-veteran-disgusting-2023-10-05/ . live .
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  66. Web site: Bailey . Ian . Politics Briefing: Freeland pushes back after Putin's comments . . 5 October 2023 . en-CA . 5 October 2023 . 6 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231006195704/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-politics-briefing-freeland-pushes-back-after-putins-comments/#:~:text=Hello%2C,during%20the%20Second%20World%20War. . live .
  67. News: Burke . Ashley . 30 September 2023 . Family of man who fought in Nazi unit unaware Hunka would be honoured in Parliament, friend says . . 30 September 2023 . 30 September 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230930185305/https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/friend-hunka-family-north-bay-parliament-political-controversy-1.6983517 . live.
  68. Web site: Anthony Rota resigns as House Speaker over tribute to veteran of Nazi unit – National Globalnews.ca . 26 September 2023 . Global News . 26 September 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230926180306/https://globalnews.ca/news/9985690/anthony-rota-resigns-canada-parliament-nazi-unit-tribute/ . live.
  69. Web site: Tasker . John Paul . 26 September 2023 . Anthony Rota resigns as Speaker after inviting former Ukrainian soldier with Nazi ties to Parliament . 26 September 2023 . CBC . 26 September 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230926181710/https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/speaker-anthony-rota-resignation-1.6978422 . live.
  70. Web site: Liberals try to strike Hunka recognition from official record. What that means . . 4 October 2023 . 3 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231003020649/https://globalnews.ca/news/9988421/canada-parliament-nazi-unit-veteran-tribute-hansard/ . live .
  71. Web site: Conservatives stop Liberals from erasing recognition of Nazi war veteran from House of Commons record . . 4 October 2023 . 18 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231018131810/https://nationalpost.com/news/liberals-stopped-from-erasing-recognition-of-nazi-veteran . live .
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  73. Web site: Poland's education minister says he's 'taken steps' to extradite Yaroslav Hunka . Zimonjic . Peter . 26 September 2023 . . 26 September 2023 . 26 September 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230926135923/https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/yaroslav-hunka-poland-minister-extradite-1.6978266 . live.
  74. Web site: Polish official wants Canada to extradite 98-year-old Nazi veteran . Ellen . Francis . 27 September 2023 . . 28 September 2023 . 27 September 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230927145645/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/09/27/poland-ukrainian-nazi-veteran-canada-extradition/ . live.
  75. Web site: Tilles . Daniel . 26 September 2023 . Poland may seek extradition of Ukrainian Nazi WW2 veteran Hunka from Canada . 26 September 2023 . Notes From Poland . en-US . 26 September 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230926173724/https://notesfrompoland.com/2023/09/26/poland-may-seek-extradition-of-ukrainian-nazi-ww2-veteran-hunka-from-canada/ . live.
  76. Web site: Mayer . Chloe . 26 September 2023 . Yaroslav Hunka extradition demanded by Poland over alleged Nazi past . 26 September 2023 . Newsweek . en . 26 September 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230926192317/https://www.newsweek.com/yaroslav-hunka-alleged-nazi-justice-poland-1829892 . live.
  77. News: Russia Charges Nazi Applauded by Canadian Parliament . The Moscow Times . 20 October 2023 . en.
  78. News: Russia charges Ukrainian war veteran mistakenly honoured by Canada with genocide . Reuters . 20 October 2023 . en.

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