Justin Trudeau issues apology for honoring Nazi veteran in parliament

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has issued an apology on behalf of Canada after a Ukrainian man, Yaroslav Hunka, who fought for a Nazi unit, was unknowingly applauded in parliament. Trudeau expressed deep embarrassment over the incident and stated that it was a mistake. Speaker Anthony Rota, who was responsible for inviting Hunka, resigned following the controversy. The incident has faced widespread condemnation globally. Trudeau also personally apologized to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who was present in parliament during the incident. The Ukrainian leader was among those seen clapping for Hunka, an image that has been exploited in Russian propaganda. Trudeau emphasized that those applauding Hunka were unaware of the context and called it a horrendous violation of the memory of those who died in the Holocaust. He acknowledged the pain it caused to Jewish people and the victims of Nazi genocide. Hunka, who served in the 14th Waffen-SS Grenadier Division during World War Two, received a standing ovation and was hailed as a hero. While the division is accused of killing Polish and Jewish civilians, it has never been found guilty of any war crimes. Trudeau clarified that Rota was not aware of Hunka's Nazi ties and made a mistake in inviting him to parliament, leading to Rota taking responsibility and stepping down. However, Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre criticized Trudeau and called for him to apologize. Canadian Jewish organizations welcomed Rota's resignation but questioned how the incident occurred in the first place.