On December 17, Azerbaijan People's Front Party (APF) issued a statement regarding the extraordinary presidential elections scheduled for February 7, 2024. The statement was adopted at the party's congress held on December 16.

APF declared that it is impossible to hold free and fair elections in the country in the current atmosphere of repression, mass arrests, and fear. "The extraordinary election scheduled by Ilham Aliyev for February 7, 2024, will not be a real election but an election spectacle. APF does not intend to participate in this election. APF is always ready to participate in real elections, but it will never participate in an election show. APF boycotts the elections scheduled for February 7, 2024, and calls our people to boycott these fake elections. The APF considers only the electoral way of coming to power acceptable and will continue its struggle to achieve real elections in the country and pressure on the authorities," the statement added.

APF once again demanded that the authorities create conditions for free and fair elections and start the necessary reforms. The document stated that it is the second time in the last three years that early elections are held when there is no need for the interests of the country and the people. APF declared that the country has no election environment and atmosphere. "On the contrary, the political situation is worse and undemocratic than in all previous years. Since the spring of this year, the number of political prisoners in the country has more than doubled. Currently, there are more than 250 political prisoners in Azerbaijan prisons. Only since December 7, when the early elections were announced, two journalists, one social activist, and one politician - Teymur Karimov, Hafiz Babali, Mohyeddin Orujov, and Tofig Yagublu - have been arrested. The number of journalists and social activists arrested in the last few months has reached ten people. Ten members of the PFLP are currently living as political prisoners," the statement reads.

APF believes that the free media in the country has been almost completely destroyed. "Ilham Aliyev is now busy destroying the last and smallest remnants of free media. For this purpose, a new, reactionary law on the media was also adopted. Freedom of association and assembly was taken away from people. Meetings and marches have been banned in the country for almost five years. The activities of the opposition political parties have been further restricted. A special law was adopted for this purpose," the statement added.

According to the party, torture and police violence have become the main principles of governance in the country. "Even critics of the regime outside of Azerbaijan are subjected to physical and moral terror. An atmosphere of total fear has been created in the country. Elections are not controlled by various interest groups other than the government. Election commissions are fully under the control of the government. There is no mechanism to observe the elections and review election complaints," the party noted.