 A group of rabbis from the Chabad Federation of Jewish Communities, headed by government Chief Rabbi Berel Lazar of Russia, attacked the appointment describing it as "illegitimate" and "insulting to the feelings of every believer".150 secular Jewish leaders sympathetic to the Federation later protested the vote as well.However, Azman has a large following in Kiev and has spearheaded several non-partisan projects for the advancement of orthodox Judaism across the country.