The speaker of Canada’s House of Commons resigned Tuesday as a result of the firestorm that ignited after he invited a seemingly known Nazi Waffen-SS soldier into Parliament and honored him with a standing ovation in front of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

The 98-year-old Ukrainian Yaroslav Hunka apparently fought for the 14th “Galicia” division of the Waffen-SS known for war crimes against Polish civilians, as reported by ZeroHedge.

During World War II, Nazi Germany occupied much of Ukraine as it fought against Russia and the other Allied powers including the United States. An initial CBC News report said that Hunka fought for Ukrainian independence against Russia during that period but omitted that he allegedly did so as part of a Nazi unit.

Zelenskyy had just finished speaking before the House of Commons on Friday when House Speaker Anthony Rota introduced Hunka, who was seated in the gallery as a Canadian-Ukrainian war hero who fought against the Russians.

“We have here in the chamber today a Ukrainian-Canadian veteran from the Second World War who fought for Ukrainian independence against the Russians and continues to support the troops today, even at his age of 98,” the speaker said, as reported by Politico.

The chamber, including Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Zelenskyy, turned their attention to the honored guest and applauded in appreciation.

“He’s a Ukrainian hero, a Canadian hero, and we thank him for all his service. Thank you,” Rota added once the applause subsided.

As more details of Hunka’s apparent service in a Nazi combat unit that was personally commended by head of the SS Heinrich Himmler spread through the media, Rota tried to accept the blame for leading Parliament and the prime minister to honor an alleged Nazi.

“I wish to make clear that no one, including fellow parliamentarians and the Ukraine delegation, was aware of my intention or of my remarks before I delivered them,” he said, according to Politico. “This initiative was entirely my own, the individual in question being from my riding and having been brought to my attention.”

However, opposition party leader Pierre Poilievre argued Trudeau must accept the blame. He called out the prime minister for an “appalling error of judgment” in approving Hunka’s invitation, per Politico. Trudeau’s office has denied having any prior knowledge about the speaker’s plan to honor Hunka.

On Tuesday, after meeting with party leaders amid calls for his resignation as speaker, Rota told Parliament that he was stepping down.

“No one in this House is above any of us. Therefore I must step down as your speaker. I reiterate my profound regret for my error in recognizing an individual in the House during the joint address to Parliament of President Zelenskyy,” Rota said per The Associated Press.

House Government Leader Karina Gould explained that Rota should have been aware of Hunka’s alleged past.

“This is something that has brought shame and embarrassment to all of Parliament and indeed all Canadians. The speaker did the honorable thing in resigning,” Gould said, per the AP, adding, “This is very emotional for me. My family are Jewish holocaust survivors. I would have never in a million … years stood and applauded someone who aided the Nazis.”