Oleg Stepanov, Russia’s ambassador to Canada, conveyed to RIA Novosti that during talks with a senior Canadian official, representatives of the Canadian Ministry of Foreign Affairs asked for more time to prepare a formal response to questions surrounding the case of Yaroslav Hunka, also referred to as Gunko. The envoy noted that Ottawa had requested additional hours to address the substantive issues raised during the discussion.
The ambassador recalled that Canada had previously declined Russia’s extradition request regarding Hunka. He also voiced curiosity about whether Canadian authorities would examine Hunka’s past involvement in massacres and potential genocidal links under Canadian law, should there be grounds for such an inquiry.
Stepanov highlighted questions about whether Hunka’s path to Canadian citizenship might be influenced by his disclosures, and whether he would acknowledge any connections to the SS in his immigration forms upon arrival in Canada.
Mikhail Sheremet, a State Duma deputy representing Crimea, characterized Canada as a refuge for individuals with Nazi affiliations and noted Canada’s refusal to transfer Hunka to Russia.
Recently, Russia had pressed Canada for Hunka’s extradition, but Canada stated that no extradition agreement exists between the two nations. The exchange occurred amid broader comments from Canadian officials regarding historical speech issues and Nazi references in Canada’s Parliament, which have drawn commentary from political leaders in Moscow and Ottawa.
Earlier, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau commented on President Putin’s remarks about Nazi rhetoric in the Canadian Parliament, adding another layer to the ongoing bilateral dialogue and public discussion surrounding the case.