in World News After Canada’s Parliament Cheers Nazi Veteran, ‘Upset’ Trudeau Warns Against ‘Russian Propaganda’
By Hank Berrien
“Obviously it’s extremely upsetting that this happened.”
After his country’s parliament gave a World War II Ukrainian veteran an ovation, only to learn later that he was part of the 14th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS, the military wing of the Nazi Party, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spent time focusing on “Russian propaganda” and “Russian disinformation.”
The ovation for Yaroslav Hunka came during a session in which President Volodomyr Zelensky of Ukraine addressed the Canadian Parliament to thank Canada for its support. The speaker of the House of Commons, Anthony Rota, then recognized 98-year-old Yaroslav Hunka, who fought the Russians in World War II. Hunka was a member of the First Ukrainian Division in World War II, which was also known as he 14th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS, aka SS Galichina,
“Division members are accused of killing Polish and Jewish civilians, although the unit has not been found guilty of any war crimes by a tribunal,” the BBC reported.
Fact-Check Fails – Memo to Ukrainian President Zelinskyy and Canada’s Parliament and Prime Minister: If you don’t want people thinking you’re anti-Semites, do a background check to make sure you’re not giving a standing ovation to a former Nazi soldier.https://t.co/mTqeoPtk4k
— Gov. Mike Huckabee (@GovMikeHuckabee) September 25, 2023
Rota later apologized, saying, “In my remarks following the address of the president of Ukraine, I recognized an individual in the gallery. I have subsequently become aware of more information which causes me to regret my decision to do so. … No one, including fellow parliamentarians and the Ukraine delegation, was aware of my intention or of my remarks before I delivered them. This initiative was entirely my own, the individual in question being from my riding [district] and having been brought to my attention.”
“I particularly want to extend my deepest apologies to Jewish communities in Canada and around the world. I accept full responsibility for my actions,” he added.