MINSK, 14 February (BelTA) - Belarus is very disappointed with the decision taken by the Canadian government to reject Russia's extradition request for Waffen SS Galicia Division veteran Yaroslav Hunka, press secretary of the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Anatoly Glaz told the media, BelTA has learned.
"Very, very disappointed. The Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs was one of the first to react to the outrageous celebration of this Nazi criminal in the Canadian Parliament. We continue to monitor this situation closely, and we will not drop this issue. We believe that this is not an ordinary and isolated case, but rather part of a broader global trend. Addressing it should be a concern for the entire respectable international community," Anatoly Glaz said. “At the same time, we have no illusions. It is quite obvious that the Canadian government, in its usual manner, will artificially stall for time and come up with any excuses and justifications to cover up for such Nazi criminals."
Anatoly Glaz recalled that the Canadian authorities did not respond to Belarus’ earlier request to extradite Vladimir Katryuk, a ruthless murderer, a killing squad member who took part in the Khatyn massacre. “By the way, he is being tried in absentia in Minsk these days,” the press secretary noted.
According to him, the case of Yaroslav Hunka will become another litmus test for Canada that calls itself a rule-of-law, civilized state, while having sheltered hordes of people whose crimes are well-documented and have no statute of limitations.
“Belarus will keep consistently defending historical truth and justice, including through the investigation of the criminal case into the genocide of the population of our country during the Great Patriotic War. In the year when Belarus marks the 80th anniversary of its liberation from the Nazi invaders, the theme of justice and well-deserved punishment for Nazi accomplices is more relevant than ever,” said the spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
"Very, very disappointed. The Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs was one of the first to react to the outrageous celebration of this Nazi criminal in the Canadian Parliament. We continue to monitor this situation closely, and we will not drop this issue. We believe that this is not an ordinary and isolated case, but rather part of a broader global trend. Addressing it should be a concern for the entire respectable international community," Anatoly Glaz said. “At the same time, we have no illusions. It is quite obvious that the Canadian government, in its usual manner, will artificially stall for time and come up with any excuses and justifications to cover up for such Nazi criminals."
Anatoly Glaz recalled that the Canadian authorities did not respond to Belarus’ earlier request to extradite Vladimir Katryuk, a ruthless murderer, a killing squad member who took part in the Khatyn massacre. “By the way, he is being tried in absentia in Minsk these days,” the press secretary noted.
According to him, the case of Yaroslav Hunka will become another litmus test for Canada that calls itself a rule-of-law, civilized state, while having sheltered hordes of people whose crimes are well-documented and have no statute of limitations.
“Belarus will keep consistently defending historical truth and justice, including through the investigation of the criminal case into the genocide of the population of our country during the Great Patriotic War. In the year when Belarus marks the 80th anniversary of its liberation from the Nazi invaders, the theme of justice and well-deserved punishment for Nazi accomplices is more relevant than ever,” said the spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
