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The Canadian speaker of the House of Commons has issued an apology after he asked the entire Parliament to give a standing ovation last week to a 98 year old Nazi Waffen-SS soldier in the presence of the visiting Ukrainian President Zelensky.
Anthony Rota issued the apology Sunday, claiming that the decision to honor Yaroslav Hunka, a Ukrainian who fought with 14th “Galicia” division of the Waffen-SS in the Second World War, was entirely down to him.
Yaroslav Hunka, 98, fought in a Third Reich military formation accused of war crimes.
On September 22, in the House of Commons, I recognized an individual in the gallery. I regret my decision to do so, and accept full responsibility for my actions. Read my statement here: https://t.co/Hd9chtHFNJ
— Speaker of the HoC (@HoCSpeaker) September 24, 2023
“I wish to make clear that no one, including fellow parliamentarians and the Ukraine delegation, was aware of my intention or of my remarks before I delivered them,” Rota noted, adding “This initiative was entirely my own, the individual in question being from my riding 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,” Rota further stated.