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Trudeau told Parliament that the late Speaker of the National Assembly, Anthony Rota, was entirely responsible for the affair, but that the mistake was deeply humiliating for both Parliament and Canada .
– All of us who stood up in Parliament last Friday and applauded this man deeply regret it, even if we do not know the context, declared the Canadian Prime Minister.
The incident that sparked controversy in Canada occurred in connection with President Volodymyr Zelenskyj’s visit to Parliament in Ottawa last Friday. During the visit, Rota paid tribute to 98-year-old Ukrainian immigrant Yaroslav Hunka. It was Rota himself who invited the 98-year-old man.
Rota described Hunka as a Ukrainian-Canadian veteran who, during World War II, fought for Ukraine’s independence from Russia. Hunka has been hailed as a Ukrainian and Canadian hero.
The Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Resource Center called the statement shocking and deeply disturbing. The center said it is well documented that Hunka served in the 14th Grenadier Division, a Nazi unit responsible for war crimes during World War II.
Rota later apologized for the statements and resigned on Tuesday.
[ Det var mye rødgrønt vemod på rådhuset denne onsdagen ]
