The speaker of the Canadian parliament has resigned after he invited a Ukrainian Nazi to an event with Justin Trudeau and Volodymyr Zelensky.
Yaroslav Hunka, a 98-year-old Ukrainian, received a standing ovation in the Canadian parliament after a speech by Zelensky before it was revealed that he had served in the SS during the Second World War.
Anthony Rota, who invited Hunka, praised him as “a Ukrainian hero, a Canadian hero” and thanked him for his service during the address in the House of Commons. Rota initially resisted calls for his resignation before issuing a statement on Monday evening, saying: "I reiterate my profound regret."
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he was left “extremely upset” by the affair, and that it was: "deeply embarrassing to the parliament of Canada and by extension to all Canadians."
Prior to his resignation, Foreign Minister Melanie Joly, of Trudeau's ruling Liberal party said Hunka's presence was "completely unacceptable" and called for his resignation, saying: "I don't think there's any alternative."
Also this week, the Polish government announced they were taking steps to possibly extradite Hunka.
Education minister Przemysław Czarnek said: “In view of the scandalous events in the Canadian parliament, which involved honouring, in the presence of President Zelensky, a member of the criminal Nazi SS Galizien formation, I have taken steps towards the possible extradition of this man to Poland."
In a letter, he has asked that Poland's Institute of National Remembrance, a prosecutorial body, “urgently [establish] whether Yaroslav Hunka is wanted for crimes against the Polish nation or Poles of Jewish origin."
The letter adds: "Such crimes constitute grounds for applying to Canada for his extradition."
To get more news, click here to sign up for our free daily newsletter.