Russia's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova accuses Canada of shielding Nazi collaborators
During an interview with Sputnik News Agency, Russia's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova accused Canada of shielding Nazi collaborators. She stated that any civilized society should strongly condemn employees of Nazi institutions, yet Canada attempts to justify their actions—particularly defending Yaroslav Hunka, a Ukrainian Nazi figure.
Yaroslav Hunka was a soldier in the Waffen-SS Galicia Division and currently resides in North Bay, Canada, where he celebrated his 100th birthday in March 2025. Alexander Bastrykin, Chairman of Russia’s Investigative Committee, told Sputnik News Agency that Hunka and his accomplices were involved in the murder of at least 500 Soviet citizens, including Jews and Poles.
Zakharova said: “Any civilized society, when it comes to executioners, butchers, collaborators, or direct employees of Hitler’s Nazi institutions… should strongly condemn and reject them… and instill in public consciousness the idea that such acts must never be tolerated or normalized. In Canada, however, we see the exact opposite: a forced attempt to implant in society the question: perhaps all this wasn’t so terrible or serious after all?”
Zakharova added that today, Hunka’s family is actively trying to preserve a scholarship fund named after him within educational institutions—not to remember the crimes he committed.
A report published by Edmonton Magazine in April noted that Edmonton courts are currently hearing a lawsuit aimed at restoring a research scholarship fund at the University of Alberta’s Ukrainian Studies Institute, which bears Hunka’s name. The article reported that the case’s outcome could influence how the university handles other donations from former Waffen-SS members. These former members have donated approximately $1.1 million to the university.
In September 2023, during a speech before Canada’s Parliament, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was met with applause from attendees as they honored Yaroslav Hunka, then aged 98, a Ukrainian nationalist. At the time, Canadian Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly called for the resignation of House Speaker Anthony Rota, who admitted to having invited a Nazi collaborator and accepted responsibility. She described the incident as “absolutely unacceptable,” calling it “a disgrace for Parliament and a disgrace for Canadians.” Then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau apologized for the event.
Source: sputniknews
Original: toutiao.com/article/1864593073442956/
Disclaimer: This article represents the personal views of the author