Trudeau apologizes for Canada honoring Nazi unit member
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau apologized on Wednesday for the country's parliament and himself honoring Yaroslav Hunka, a 98-year-old Ukrainian-Canadian former member of a Nazi unit, during Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's visit to the House of Commons, but refused to take responsibility for the move.
"This was a mistake that has deeply embarrassed Parliament and Canada. All of us who were in the House on Friday regret deeply having stood and clapped, even though we did so unaware of the context," Trudeau told reporters outside the country's House of Commons and stated the move was a "horrendous violation" of the memory of Holocaust victims. However, he also slammed Russia for using the "egregious error" for propaganda and blamed Canadian House Speaker Anthony Rota, who has since quit over the controversy, calling him "solely responsible" for the invitation and recognition of Hunka.
Earlier, Russia urged Canada to arrest and extradite Hunka and denounce Nazism.