The scandal surrounding Kazim Abbasov, known as “David Seliverstov,” continues. A number of prominent figures, led by human rights defender Chingiz Ganizade, have played a significant role in bringing the issue to public attention.
“Elchi” reports, citing Musavat.com, that since then, statements from individuals claiming to have been deceived by Kazim Abbasov, court proceedings related to him, and various information regarding his use of different names and identities have come to the agenda.
Most recently, it was alleged that the person known as David Seliverstov called human rights defender Novella Jafaroglu, recorded the conversation without her permission, and subsequently released the audio in the media. This incident has sparked new controversy surrounding the scandal.
In an interview with TV Musavat, Novella Jafaroglu stated that the released audio recording was edited, her remarks were distorted, and the full content of the conversation was not presented to the public. The human rights defender spoke in detail to the TV Musavat reporter about the circumstances under which the phone call took place and what was actually said.
At the end of the interview, she also declared that she would sue the person presented as David Seliverstov. Novella Jafaroglu stated that the violation of her rights, the unauthorized recording of her voice, and its subsequent dissemination in a distorted, edited form create legal liability:
“If necessary, I will sue him both in Baku and in Israel. He recorded my voice without my permission, edited it, and released it. He must be held legally accountable for this.”
Novella Jafaroglu also commented on reports regarding the individual presenting himself as a Jew and David Seliverstov. According to the human rights defender, this person’s real name is Kazim Abbasov, and his claims about his Jewish identity, his mother being Jewish, or having kinship ties with the Jewish community do not reflect the truth. These are the allegations made by Novella Jafaroglu in the interview.
In her interview, Novella Jafaroglu drew attention to another sensational point. According to her, Kazim Abbasov, who presents himself as David Seliverstov, placed the map of Azerbaijan inside a six-pointed Jewish star on the emblem of the “Magen David” organization he created. The human rights defender strongly protested this, stating that it creates the impression of presenting Azerbaijan as Jewish land: “Who are you to place the map of Azerbaijan inside a Jewish star?” Novella Jafaroglu called on law enforcement agencies to investigate this fact and the purpose for which that emblem was created.
Musavat.com reminds that Novella Jafaroglu’s late husband, Vilen Eppelbaum, was of Jewish descent. They had three sons from this marriage. Ms. Novella’s children and grandchildren currently live and work in Israel.
Vilen Eppelbaum was known as one of the individuals who provided great support to the Azerbaijan National Liberation Movement. He was a close friend of the late President Abulfaz Elchibey and was loved and highly valued by prominent figures of the National Liberation Movement. Vilen Eppelbaum passed away in July 2022.
In this regard, it is emphasized that Novella Jafaroglu’s family ties with Israel and the Jewish community are older and more real than the alleged connections of Kazim Abbasov, who is presented as David Seliverstov.
We present the video interview prepared by TV Musavat with Novella Jafaroglu: