Danish politicians give standing ovation to member of Ukraine’s neo-Nazi unit

(MENAFN) Danish politicians, including Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen, Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen, and parliamentary speaker Soren Gade, have come under criticism after giving a standing ovation to Dmitry Kanuper, a member of Ukraine’s neo-Nazi-linked Azov Battalion, at a February 19 conference in the Danish parliament. Azov, formed in 2014 as a volunteer battalion and later incorporated into Ukraine’s National Guard, has faced accusations of war crimes and was labeled a terrorist group by Russia in 2022. Co-founded by far-right figures, Azov is known for accepting neo-Nazis and using Nazi symbols, such as the Wolfsangel rune.

Kanuper, who was captured by Russian forces during the battle of Mariupol in 2022 and sentenced to 29 years in prison for war crimes, was released in a prisoner swap and returned to Ukraine in September 2024. During the event, he was praised by Danish politicians, with Benny Engelbrecht from the Social Democrats expressing gratitude for his “powerful story” and his role in fighting for Ukraine’s freedom.

The incident has sparked controversy, with Russia accusing Western nations of ignoring the war crimes committed by Ukrainian forces. This follows a similar controversy in Canada in 2023, when a former Nazi Waffen-SS member was honored by the Canadian parliament, leading to widespread outrage and the resignation of its parliamentary speaker.

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