The Ukrainian former Nazi fighter who was honored by Canada’s parliament in September has been accused in Russia of “genocide” of civilians in Ukraine during the Second World War, the Russian Investigative Committee announced Friday.
Yaroslav Hunka, 98, was charged in absentia, the commission said, adding that the possibility of issuing an international arrest warrant and detention in absentia “will be decided in the proceedings.”
Accused of having fought in the SS, the paramilitary organization of the German National Socialist Party (Nazi)Hunka was cheered in Canada’s parliament in September by deputies, the country’s prime minister, Justin Trudeau, and Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky, who later said they were unaware of his past.
The unit that reportedly integrated is accused of killing “at least 500 citizens of the Soviet Union”, including Jews and Poles, in a village in the Lviv region of western Ukraine.
The Russian committee indicated that it had requested the cooperation of Canada, Poland and Belarus in its investigation.
The Polish Minister of Education had already announced that he will request an investigation into whether this Ukrainian veteran has committed any crime in Poland, with a view to possible extradition.
In early October, Russian President Vladimir Putin said it was “absolutely disgusting” that the former soldier was being cheered, especially by Zelensky.
“The president of Ukraine stood up and applauded a Nazi who murdered Jews. Isn’t this a sign of the Nazification of Ukraine?.
The Russian military offensive on Ukrainian territory, launched on February 24 last year, was justified by Russian President Vladimir Putin with the need to “denazify” and demilitarize Ukraine for Russia’s security.
Source: DN
