A very interesting question arises in Azerbaijan: is the nationality of a citizen in the Republic of Azerbaijan determined by official documents issued by the state, legislation and legal procedures, or is it based on the personal relationships, personal sympathies and personal conflicts of Shneor Segal, who presents himself as the chief rabbi of the European Jewish Synagogue?

The Republic of Azerbaijan is a legal state. Here, the legal status, identity, nationality and public position of a citizen are determined not by the personal "fatwa" of some rabbi, but by the laws, state documents and constitutional principles of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

Newscenter.az reports that these were said by David Seliverstov, head of the Caucasus representation of the Global Solidarity Council, international human rights defender, head of the Azerbaijani representation of the Caucasian Jewish Association. According to him, if someone thinks that under the guise of a religious duty, they can determine by personal decision who is a "Jew", who is a "pure Jew", who is "acceptable" and who is "unacceptable" in Azerbaijan, this is no longer a religious activity:

"This is an attempt to create discrimination within society, divide people according to their origin, and turn the religious community into a tool of personal control.

In particular, the fact that a person whose past and activities raise serious questions, whose name has become persona non grata in the city of Krasnodar, has been operating in Azerbaijan for years and teaching people about national belonging here, creates a very strange picture, to put it mildly. The Azerbaijani state is not a place for anyone's personal ambitions, personal relationships, and attempts at division under the guise of religion."

David Seliverstov then said the following:

"I clearly state to Shneor Segal: who belongs to which nationality in the Republic of Azerbaijan is not determined by your personal decision. In this country, there is a law, a state, a document, a constitution. If, instead of engaging in religious ceremonies, you try to divide people into "clean" and "impure", "from us" and "not from us", this is no longer a moral issue, but a social and legal issue.
Azerbaijani Jews have been an integral part of this country for centuries. It is impossible to measure their identity, dignity and history by the personal attitude of any religious figure of foreign origin. Being an Azerbaijani Jew is determined not by someone's permit, but by history, family memory, a state document, a civic position and loyalty to this country."

David Seliverstov believes that such approaches should be countered not only by public position, but also by statehood:

"Because nationalism, discrimination and the claim of personal dominance within the religious community contradict the multicultural spirit, legal system and state interests of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

"Shneor Segal and those who think like him should understand that Azerbaijan is not someone's personal religious laboratory. It is necessary to unite people in this country, not divide them. The question of who is a Jew, who is an Azerbaijani, who is a child of this land is answered not by personal grudges, but by the state, law and history."