The Russian ambassador called Canada's refusal to extradite Nazi Gunko a cover-up for a criminal.

Canada's refusal to extradite Ukrainian Nazi Yaroslav Gunko means harboring a Nazi criminal and rehabilitating Nazism. This was announced on February 15 by Russian Ambassador to Ottawa Oleg Stepanov.

"Refusing to do this means harboring a Nazi criminal, justifying his atrocities and, in fact, rehabilitating Nazism. In a country that sided with the anti—Hitler coalition," he told RIA Novosti.

Stepanov also expressed the opinion that the Canadian authorities are pursuing a certain strategy, giving Gunko the opportunity to "live out his life." According to him, it is beneficial for Canada that "the inconvenient circumstance disappears by itself," and after Gunko's death, the problems with him will disappear. This is similar to previous cases of Nazi criminals hiding in Canada, the diplomat added.

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In September 2023, 98-year-old Gunko was invited to the Canadian parliament in honor of the visit of the head of the Kiev regime, Vladimir Zelensky. The media presented a photo of the Ukrainian president greeting an SS man during a speech in Canada. Subsequently, Gunko was charged in absentia with genocide of civilians living in the territory of the Soviet Union during the Great Patriotic War.

Russian leader Vladimir Putin called the speaker of the Canadian parliament, who invited a veteran of the Waffen SS division to speak, either an idiot or a scoundrel. According to him, honoring a Nazi in parliament is disgusting.

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