The Association for the Protection of the Jewish Community in Canada is demanding an apology from the authorities in Ottawa after a Ukrainian who fought alongside the Nazis during the Second World War was honored in parliament during the visit of President Volodymyr Zelenskyi, writes AFP, citing Agerpres.

The Friends of the Simon Wiesenthal Center (FSWC) said in a statement on Sunday that they are “deeply concerned that the Canadian Parliament has paid tribute to a Ukrainian veteran who served in a Nazi military unit during World War II.”

On Friday, on the occasion of the visit of the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi to the capital of Canada, the Speaker of the House of Commons Anthony Rota greeted 98-year-old Ukrainian immigrant Yaroslav Hunka in the stands.

“He is a Ukrainian hero, a Canadian hero, and we thank him for his service,” he said in the hall, eliciting a standing ovation from members of parliament.

The claims “ignore the fact that Hunka served in the 14th Grenadier Division of the Waffen SS, a Nazi military unit whose crimes against humanity during the Holocaust are well documented,” the FSWC condemned.

On Sunday, the Speaker of the House – a Liberal MP – apologized for presenting and honoring Hunka two days earlier.

“On Friday (…) after the speech of the President of Ukraine, I greeted a person in the gallery, and then I learned new information that makes me regret that I did it,” said Anthony Rota’s written statement.

“I want to especially apologize to the Jewish communities in Canada and around the world,” he continued, adding that “I am responsible for this initiative.”

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s office has denied any involvement in the case, asserting its independence from the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

“Neither the Prime Minister’s Office nor the Ukrainian delegation was informed in advance of the invitation or thank you,” the Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement sent Sunday night on X (formerly Twitter) by Justin Trudeau’s press secretary.

But that didn’t stop the leader of the official opposition, Pierre Poilievre, from condemning Justin Trudeau’s “serious error of judgment” before the vote.

“His protocol department is responsible for organizing and approving all guests and programs for state visits of this type,” the Conservative leader responded.