The fact that the Canadian Parliament greeted a 98-year-old Ukrainian Nazi collaborator with a standing ovation in the presence of the President of Ukraine and the Prime Minister of Canada caused a huge public outcry, and the Simon Wiesenthal Center expressed deep concern about the incident.

Yaroslav Hunka served in the Nazi military unit in the Second World War and participated in, among other things, the mass murder of Jews and was present at the parliamentary session in Canada where the representatives gathered to listen to Volodymyr Zelensky's speech. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was also present, of course.

The nearly 100-year-old Nazi bowed moved before the Western politicians celebrating him.

The Simon Wiesenthal Center (FSWC), one of the largest Jewish human rights organizations, is deeply concerned by the recognition of the Ukrainian veteran by the Canadian Parliament. The FSWC was outraged that MPs in the House of Commons gave the former soldier a standing ovation on Friday.

FSWC points out: Yaroslav Hunka, a 98-year-old immigrant from Ukraine, was introduced by Speaker of the House of Commons Anthony Rota as

a Ukrainian-Canadian war veteran of the Second World War who fought for the independence of Ukraine against the Russians.

The Canadian leader portrayed the man as a hero, ignoring the horrific fact that Hunka served in the 14th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS, a Nazi military unit whose crimes against humanity during the Holocaust are well-documented, says the X-loaded in the post.

Rota later took responsibility for his mistake and claimed the initiative as his own.

After I got more information later, I already regretted my decision, he said, and expressed his deepest apology to the Jewish community, reports the Reuters news agency.

On Friday, Volodymyr Zelensky thanked Canada for the country's support of the Ukrainians' struggle. After his parliamentary speech, Anthony Rota, the Speaker of the Canadian House of Commons, made a statement in appreciation of the Nazi Hunka sitting in the gallery. He emphasized how much he had done for Ukraine's independence. The head of state of Ukraine was also in the room while this praise was given.

At a time of rising anti-Semitism and distortions of the Holocaust, it is incredibly disturbing to see the Canadian Parliament applauding an individual who was a member of the Waffen-SS, the Nazi military branch responsible for the murder of Jews and others, the Simon Wiesenthal Center said in a statement.

An explanation must be given as to how this individual entered the hallowed chamber of the Canadian Parliament and received recognition from the Speaker and a standing ovation, the group added.

The elderly Nazi had no objection to being celebrated.

Hungarian Nation