In 2000, the Popular Front party split up into to two groups, the \"classics\" (leader Mirmahmud Fattaev) and the \"reformers\" (Ali Kerimli). Both of these groups, rejecting the opposite side\'s legitimacy, proclaimed their own group as the only legitimate organization with the name APFP. Each side applied to the ministry of justice and stated that it represents APFP. Simultaneously, party activists headed by Gudret Gasanguliyev established an organizational commission on preparation to a consolidating convention, new governing bodies were elected, chaired by Gasanguliyev, and it submitted to the ministry of justice for registration. On January 13 the Ministry of Justice decided to register the group of Gasanguliyev (GGG) as the Popular Front party (APFP). This decision was a shock to the political environment of Azerbaijan. The political opposition immediately reacted to this development. Leader of the \"reformers\", Ali Kerimli, called the decision \"ridiculous\". He argued the decision was based ona fear on the part of the government of APFP, that the government felt compelled to liquidate the judicial base of our party. APFP observers\' active participation in the monitoring of the referendum of August 24, 2002, was cites as a reason. Kerimli also claimed that APFP is the main opponent of Heydar Aliyev at the forthcoming presidential elections, and that this was the reason for registering \"GGG\". The leader of \"classics\" wing, Mirmahmud Fattayev, named the decision a \"complete lawlessness from the side of the authorities\" and intended to strike APFP a blow in the year of presidential elections. Other opposition leaders also condemned the decision. Chairman of AMIP Etibar Mamedov regarded the decision of the Ministry of Justice as \"illegal\" and \"another step by authorities aimed to split the opposition and falsify the presidential elections\". The leader of \"Musavat\" Isa Gambar named this decision as \"contradicting the norms of morality and law\". On January 15, the Coordination center of the opposition (CCO), joining the main political parties, issued a statement at its emergency convention. The document states that the decision of the Ministry of Justice was approved by authorities aiming to upset election reforms in Azerbaijan, held with support of OCSE and the Council of Europe. Simultaneously opposition parties began negotiations with international organizations in order not to admit \"GGG\" as the holder of the APFP title. The APFP reformers\' wing held meetings with representatives of the U.S. embassy in Azerbaijan, the U.S. National Democratic Institute, and the Baku office of OCSE. On January 21 issue was discussed at a meeting with a co-reporter of the Monitoring committee of the Parliamentary Committee of the Council of Europe, who assessed the registration of the \"GGG\" group as a move intended to create a \"tame opposition\". But on January 22, the tables were turned. The state news agency AzerTaj released the sensational report that President Heydar Aliyev signed a decree repealing the decision made by the Ministry of Justice. Aliyev explained that the Ministry of Justice had not completely and thoroughly studied the documents and as a result, provisions of the law on political parties were not observed. The head of the political department of the presidential administration, Ali Hasanov, noted that society perceives the branch of the party headed by Ali Kerimli as the legitimate APFP. \"Representatives of this faction were elected to the Milli Mejlis, the Constitutional court approved their candidatures in 2000, they have also proposed a candidate to the Central Electoral Commission. The president has taken into account the protests in the society caused by the decision of the Ministry of Justice\". The mistake, which cause damage to the international image of Azerbaijan, was removed. Commenting on the reasons to repeal the decision, \"reformers\" deputy chairman Asim Mollazade cited the unprecedented pressure of the domestic and international community. According former Presidential advisor Eldar Namazov, the original decision of the board was not independent. In his opinion, the registration of \"GGG\" was a political decision by the authorities, reflecting a policy to remove rivals before the elections, while not jeopardizing relations with the international community. Hence international attention is crucial. Yet the unexpected decision of the President does not embarrass Gudrat Gasanguliyev. According to one of the leaders of \"GGG\", Arif Pasha, the presidents\' decision only strengthened the unity in their party. \"We will continue struggle for restoration of our rights, but within ethics norms. After all, we can appeal against this decision in Court\", Pasha noted. Gasanguliyev may also aspire to create a new political alliance, the Union of National Democratic Forces (UNDF), joining the \"Tekamul\" and Liberal-democratic parties. According to some observers, the aim of this political alliance will be to struggle with the \"non-constructive opposition\". Thus in the nearest future, we can expect the aggravation of relations between the real opposition and government-oriented \"opposition\" parties.