 In 2001 Rabbi Azman was officially awarded with the Badge of Honor by the Mayor of Kiev, and in 2009 was awarded the Order of Merit of by the Ukrainian government.In October 2005, Rabbi Azman was elected as chief Rabbi of Ukraine by the delegates of the All-Ukrainian Jewish Congress and the United Jewish Community of Ukraine, both headed by wealthy Ukrainian-Jewish businessmen.His election caused considerable controversy in the Ukraine Chabad community, 

Most Jewish people and the government of Ukraine still Consider the chief Rabbi of Ukraine to be Rabbi Yaakov Bleich., .