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Azov fighters are neo-Nazis and Ottawa had to know this, Simon Wiesenthal Center’s Efraim Zuroff tells Canadian media

Director of the Simon Wiesenthal Center in Israel has condemned Canadian troops for training neo-Nazi fighters in Ukraine, saying it was Ottawa’s responsibility to make sure such things did not happen. But, Canada’s military denies any obligation to vet training recipients.

“The Canadian government didn’t do its due diligence,” Efraim Zuroff spoke to the Ottawa Citizen Wednesday. “It’s the responsibility of the Canadian defense ministry to know exactly who they are training.”

“There is no question that there are neo-Nazis in different forms in Ukraine, whether they are in the Azov regiment or other organizations,”He added.

He made these comments after Radio Canada reported Monday that in November 2020 Canadian soldiers were seen training the members of the Canadian Armed Forces. “Azov”A regiment and at least one soldier are required to wear the insignia for the SS division “Galizien,”An unidentified Ukrainian unit who fought in WWII for the Nazis.

The Canadian military acknowledged the photos’ authenticity, the Ottawa Citizen reported. Canadian Forces (CAF), however, denied that it had an obligation to vet soldiers it was training.

Ukraine is responsible for vetting its own personnel, Captain Véronique Sabourin told the newspaper. Canadian troops training in Ukraine were taught how to recognise insignia. “associated with right-wing extremism,”If they were concerned about such ties, “racist views”The trainees were to be fired. However, “There is no burden of proof on the CAF to demonstrate this beyond a reasonable doubt.”