"Immediately after receiving the information about Yaroslav Hunka, and after the ovation given to him in the Canadian parliament and by President [of Ukraine Volodymyr] Zelensky, the prosecutor began to analyze volumes of books about the Huta Pieniacka massacre," Leshkevich told reporters.
He added that the prosecutors were investigating whether Hunka participated in the massacres against Poles, clarifying that Ukrainians from the SS Galicia Division participated in the killing of nearly 800 Poles in the village of Huta Pieniacka in February 1944. He said that prosecutors were analyzing tens of volumes of the case to check whether Hunka's name was among the other accused.
The Polish side intends to seek legal assistance from Canada and Ukraine in this matter, the spokesman added.
"Despite these analyses, the prosecutor intends to take actions related to obtaining legal assistance in getting information about Hunka. He will send a request to the Canadian authorities," Leshkevich said, adding that Hunka should have provided some personal information to the migration service before entering Canada.
On Friday, Hunka, a 98-year-old Ukrainian Nazi veteran who fought in the ranks of the 14th Waffen Grenadier Division of the Nazi SS during the Second World War, received a standing ovation from the entire Canadian legislature. Hunka's recognition came as House of Commons Speaker Anthony Rota gave introductory remarks prior to Zelensky's address to the Canadian parliament.
On Tuesday, Rota announced that he would be stepping down from his position in the wake of the Hunka scandal.