The government in Ottawa has come under pressure to keep its list of alleged Nazi war criminals living in Canada a secret, according to the capital city’s Ottawa Citizen, as it would only help “Russian propaganda.” The list, classified now for 38 years, was to be published this month, but Library and Archives Canada (LAC) has put that plan on hold.
A classified list of around 900 names, compiled in 1986 by Canada’s war crimes commission, has received renewed interest since last year’s thunderous celebration in Parliament of Yaroslav Hunka, a soldier in the Ukrainian-based 14th Waffen-SS Grenadier Division “Galizien.” Among those in Parliament applauding the Nazi were Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his guest, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. LAC, in dealing with multiple requests to declassify the list, has heard from “multiple stakeholders” that have convinced LAC to hold off declassifying the list. After World War II, the British sent thousands and thousands of Nazi collaborators from Ukraine to Canada.
The LAC reported, according to the Globe and Mail, that they had heard concerns about “associating Ukrainian names with Nazis,” as this would provide context to Russia’s claims of a history of neo-Nazism in Ukraine. The LAC was told that Russia could use the list to “further these allegations or conduct disinformation campaigns in Canada.” Of some note, the Globe and Mail reported that responsibles had spoken with the CEO of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress, who stated that the list should “remain confidential,” but that those found to have committed war crimes should be prosecuted.
