The Speaker of the Canadian House of Representatives resigns after celebrating a Ukrainian veteran who fought in the ranks of the Nazi unit in World War II

Ottawa
CNN
—

speaker Canadian House of Commons Anthony Rota He resigned from his post on Tuesday, days after he praised a Ukrainian veteran who fought in a Nazi military unit during World War II.

On Friday, after a joint address to parliament by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Rutte praised Jaroslav Hunka, 98, as a Ukrainian-Canadian war hero who “fought for Ukraine’s independence against Russian aggressors at that time, and continues to support troops today.”

But in the days that followed, human rights and Jewish organizations condemned Rota’s confession, saying Honka had served in a Nazi military unit known as the 14th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS.

“This House is above any of us, so I must step down as your president,” Rutte said in parliament on Tuesday afternoon, repeating his “deep regret for my mistake.”

“This public recognition has caused pain to individuals and communities, including the Jewish community in Canada and around the world, as well as survivors of Nazi atrocities in Poland, among other countries,” added Rutte, a member of the Liberal Party. . “I take full responsibility for my actions.”

Ruta’s admission of Honka last week sparked a round of applause. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called the incident “deeply embarrassing.”

The 14th Waffen Grenadier Division was part of the Nazi SS organization declared a criminal organization by the International Military Tribunal at Nuremberg in 1946, which decided that the Nazi group had committed war crimes and crimes against humanity.

In a statement, the Jewish human rights organization B’nai Brith Canada condemned the Ukrainian volunteers who served in the unit, describing them as “ultra-nationalist ideologues” who “dreamed of an ethnically homogeneous Ukrainian state and supported the idea of ​​ethnic cleansing.”

Michael Mostyn, CEO of B’nai Brith Canada, said acknowledging Hunka was “beyond outrageous,” adding, “We cannot allow history to be whitewashed.”

“Canadian soldiers fought and died to free the world from the evils of Nazi brutality,” he said.

Rutte apologized in a statement issued on Sunday and before parliament on Tuesday, when he said he had “become aware of further information that makes me regret my decision to recognize this person.”

Rutte took full responsibility, saying it was his decision alone to recognize Honka, whom Rutte said was from his constituency.

He said: “No one – not even any of you, my parliamentary colleagues, or the Ukrainian delegation – was aware of my intention or my statements before I made them.”