Calgary man with neo-Nazi ties readmitted to Navy
CALGARY — A sailor with ties to neo-Nazi organizations has been readmitted to the Royal Canadian Navy despite involvement with violent white supremacist groups and recorded attempts to sell military-grade weaponry to hate groups.
Last year, an anonymous hacker leaked data from a now-defunct neo-Nazi website called Iron March, identifying numerous users of the forum, including a site administrator who went by the username “MOONLORD.” The user was first identified as Calgary-based leading seaman Boris Mihajlovic by alternative media outlet Unicorn Riot shortly after.
Leaked documents and research from anti-racism organizations show Mihajlovic was an active member of Blood and Honour, a neoNazi group that is considered a terrorist organization in Canada. He also contacted other site users selling weapons, including pistols, AK-47 assault rifles and rocket-propelled grenades.
In his posts, he spoke about an impending “race war” and his hate for the Canadian military.
Mihajlovic, who has been readmitted at the Calgary HMCS Tecumseh Naval Reserve, was suspended in December pending an investigation. At the time, CBC spoke to the sailor who said he “regretted his actions” and was taking steps to “turn his life around” with counselling and volunteering efforts. He joined the navy in 2016.
The sailor is now back to work on “restricted duties,” Cmdr. Joseph Banke of the HMCS Tecumseh Navy Reserve said in a leaked internal video directed to staff. The video was released after an initial decision was made to retain Mihajlovic on July 12.
“It’s time now for us to move forward. I believe in rehabilitation over retribution,” said Banke. “I understand that this entire situation has created some incredibly strong emotions within our crew. There are some of you who have felt very victimized by this. I hear you, though it’s still important for us now to find a way ahead together.
We can not counter hate with more hate.”
He does not mention Mihajlovic in the video.
Banke said they are engaged in conversations with senior leadership across the Canadian Armed Forces to navigate the situation. He said the way to counter hatred is with firmness, fairness and strict adherence to the Navy’s ethics and values.
A human rights organization countering racism and anti-Semitism is calling on Canada’s Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan to conduct an investigation into the decision to return Mihajlovic to active duty.
“We find this absolutely shameful,” said Jaime Kirzner-Roberts with the Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Centre (FSWC) for
Holocaust Studies.
“We’re supposed to believe somehow that this committed, longtime neo-Nazi activist, who pledged himself for many years to an ongoing race war against Jews and other people, a person who tried to traffic weapons and explosives to other Nazis, someone who was part of a terrorist organization who spoke openly about his hatred for Canadian Armed Forces, has magically rehabilitated himself in a few months and is now fit to serve in our military? This decision boggles the mind.”
Kirzner-Roberts said the navy did not identify specific disciplinary or rehabilitative measures taken against Mihajlovic. She said it appears to be a “whitewashed” investigation allowing them to give the sailor a pass.
The reinstatement decision is a disgrace to the country, said Kirzner-Roberts, and dishonours past and present service members.
In a statement to Postmedia, Sajjan said he has spoken with Gen. Jonathan Vance, chief of the defence staff, and will review the incident under the new hateful conduct policy that recently came into effect.
The new Defence Administrative Order and Directive was implemented to identify members with links to white supremacist and other hate groups.
Postmedia was unable to reach Mihajlovic for comment.