Following the incident where a former soldier who fought for the Nazis during World War II was honoured in the House of Commons, a Polish government minister said he has “taken steps“ to have the man extradited to Poland.
“In view of the scandalous events in the Canadian Parliament, which involved honouring, in the presence of President Zelenskiy, a member of the criminal Nazi SS Galizien formation, I have taken steps towards the possible extradition of this man to Poland,” Polish Education Minister Przemysław Czarnek said in a statement posted on platform X on Sept. 26.
Mr. Czarnek also included a copy of the letter he sent to the head of the Institute of National Remembrance, a Polish historical body that has prosecutorial powers, asking him to “urgently [establish] whether Yaroslav Hunka is wanted for crimes against the Polish nation or Poles of Jewish origin.”
“Such crimes constitute grounds for applying to Canada for his extradition,” added Mr. Czarnek.
On Sept. 22, a former member of the Waffen SS, a Nazi division accused of war crimes during World War II, received a standing ovation from all MPs present during Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s visit to Parliament.
They were unaware at the time that they were applauding a former Nazi.
Speaker of the House Anthony Rota introduced 98-year-old Ukrainian-Canadian Yaroslav Hunka as a “Ukrainian hero, a Canadian hero,” adding that “we thank him for all his service” before Parliamentarians celebrated him.
Following reports that Mr. Hunka fought alongside Nazis, Mr. Rota apologized in a statement on Sept. 24, adding that the decision to recognize the man in Parliament was his alone. “I am deeply sorry that I have offended many with my gesture and remarks,” Mr. Rota said in the House of Commons the following day.
The NDP and Bloc Quebecois have since called for Mr. Rota to step down from his position. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said during a media scrum on Sept. 26 that House leaders would be holding a meeting on the subject later the same day. When asked about the call to extradite Mr. Hunka, Mr. Trudeau did not respond.
Under Canada’s extradition laws, a person may only be extradited from the country if the alleged criminal conduct in question is recognized by both countries. A foreign country can seek the extradition of a person by providing Canada with a formal request along with supporting documentation. Alternatively, it can request the person’s provisional arrest along with a formal extradition request.
Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada Arif Virani told reporters on Sept. 26 that because no formal extradition request for Mr. Hunka had yet come from the Polish government, he could not comment on the matter.
Ambassador of the Republic of Poland to Canada Witold Dzielski said on Sept. 24 that the House of Commons had cheered on the member of a “notorious” military formation that was responsible for “murdering thousands of Poles and Jews.” Mr. Dzielski said Poland expected an apology.
Mr. Dzielski said on social media on Sept. 25 that he and Mr. Rota had a “very open and detailed discussion” on the matter. “It was not intended. If the mistakes make us wiser and our bond stronger, so be it!” Mr. Dzielski said of the incident.
