Poland wants to extradite a former Nazi officer who was honored with “scandalous” applause in the Canadian House of Commons.
Education Minister Przemyslaw Czarnek said he made the request to extradite 98-year-old Yaroslav Hunka after he was hailed by the Canadian government on Friday as a “hero” who fought for Ukraine’s First Division in World War II.
“In view of the scandalous events in the Canadian Parliament, which involved honoring members of the Nazi criminal SS Galizien Formation at the front [Ukrainian President Volodomyr] Zelensky, I have taken steps towards the possible extradition of this man to Poland,” Czarnek tweeted.
He also said he urged the country’s president to investigate whether Hunka is wanted for crimes against Poland and Polish Jews.
The 1st Ukrainian Division, also known as the Waffen-SS Galician Division or the 14th Waffen SS Division, was a volunteer unit under Nazi command.
Yaroslav Hunka, 98, was honored by the Canadian Parliament last week as a “hero” who fought for the First Ukrainian Division in World War II. APEMinister of Education Przemyslaw Czarnek announced on Tuesday he made a request to extradite the former Nazi. @CzarnekP / X
It was formed by Holocaust organizer Heinrich Himmler and was declared a criminal organization by the International Military Tribunal in Nuremberg in 1946, which determined that the Nazi group had committed war crimes and crimes against humanity.
The Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center for Holocaust Studies said the division was “responsible for the mass murder of innocent civilians with unimaginable levels of cruelty and malice.”
Poland’s ambassador to Canada, Witold Dzielski, told Canada’s Global News that the extradition process has not yet begun, but Czarnek sent a request to the National Institute of Remembrance – a government body that investigates crimes committed during the Holocaust – to consider extradition.
“I’m sure this request will be considered, and [it is] maybe some steps will follow,” he said. “But at this point, it’s the first step of a request for the institute to be involved in the process.”
The Post has reached out to the National Institute of Remembrance and the Canadian Prime Minister’s office for comment.
Hunka received a standing ovation from a joint session of Parliament as part of a visit by Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelensky.AP
On Wednesday, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau apologized for a joint session of Parliament honoring Hunka.
“This is a very embarrassing mistake for Parliament and for Canada,” Trudeau told reporters, saying he would stand in the House of Commons to formally “apologise unconditionally” to Parliament for what happened.
“For all of us who were present to unknowingly recognize this individual is a huge mistake and violates the memory of those who suffered terribly at the hands of the Nazi regime,” he said.
Speaker Anthony Rota also issued his own apology over the weekend before announcing his resignation.
“In my speech following the speech of the President of Ukraine, I recognized an individual in the gallery. I later became aware of more information that made me regret my decision to do so,” Rota said in a statement Sunday.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau apologized for an event recognizing former Nazis on Tuesday.AP
He added that his fellow MPs and the Ukrainian delegation were unaware of his plans to recognize Hunka, noting that Hunka lives in his district.
“I would especially like to extend my deepest apologies to the Jewish community in Canada and around the world. I accept full responsibility for my actions,” said Rota.
By Tuesday, Rota announced he would resign as speaker amid the embarrassment.
“This House is above any of us, therefore I must step down as your speaker,” he told Parliament, reiterating his “deep regret for my mistake.”
“The public recognition has caused pain to individuals and communities, including Jewish communities in Canada and around the world, in addition to survivors of Nazi atrocities in Poland, among other countries,” Rota said.
“I accept full responsibility for my actions.”
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
