diff --git a/src/main/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/replication/pull/ReplicationQueue.java b/src/main/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/replication/pull/ReplicationQueue.java
index 1ba47de..aafe12f 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/replication/pull/ReplicationQueue.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/replication/pull/ReplicationQueue.java
@@ -219,7 +219,10 @@
   private void fire(ReferenceUpdatedEvent event, ReplicationState state) {
     if (!running) {
       stateLog.warn(
-          "Replication plugin did not finish startup before event, event replication is postponed",
+          String.format(
+              "Replication plugin did not finish startup before event, event replication is postponed"
+                  + " for event %s",
+              event),
           state);
       beforeStartupEventsQueue.add(event);
 
@@ -518,7 +521,20 @@
   private HttpResult initProject(
       Project.NameKey project, URIish uri, FetchApiClient fetchClient, HttpResult result)
       throws IOException, ClientProtocolException {
-    HttpResult initProjectResult = fetchClient.initProject(project, uri);
+    RevisionData refsMetaConfigRevisionData =
+        revReaderProvider
+            .get()
+            .read(project, null, RefNames.REFS_CONFIG, 0)
+            .orElseThrow(
+                () ->
+                    new IllegalStateException(
+                        String.format(
+                            "Project %s does not have %s", project, RefNames.REFS_CONFIG)));
+
+    List<RevisionData> refsMetaConfigDataList =
+        fetchWholeMetaHistory(project, RefNames.REFS_CONFIG, refsMetaConfigRevisionData);
+    HttpResult initProjectResult =
+        fetchClient.initProject(project, uri, System.currentTimeMillis(), refsMetaConfigDataList);
     if (initProjectResult.isSuccessful()) {
       result = fetchClient.callFetch(project, FetchOne.ALL_REFS, uri);
     } else {
diff --git a/src/main/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/replication/pull/api/ProjectInitializationAction.java b/src/main/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/replication/pull/api/ProjectInitializationAction.java
index 8711379..e7289ac 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/replication/pull/api/ProjectInitializationAction.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/replication/pull/api/ProjectInitializationAction.java
@@ -14,25 +14,39 @@
 
 package com.googlesource.gerrit.plugins.replication.pull.api;
 
+import static com.googlesource.gerrit.plugins.replication.pull.PullReplicationLogger.repLog;
 import static com.googlesource.gerrit.plugins.replication.pull.api.HttpServletOps.checkAcceptHeader;
 import static com.googlesource.gerrit.plugins.replication.pull.api.HttpServletOps.setResponse;
+import static javax.servlet.http.HttpServletResponse.SC_BAD_REQUEST;
+import static javax.servlet.http.HttpServletResponse.SC_CONFLICT;
+import static javax.servlet.http.HttpServletResponse.SC_FORBIDDEN;
 
+import com.google.common.base.Strings;
 import com.google.common.flogger.FluentLogger;
+import com.google.common.net.MediaType;
 import com.google.gerrit.entities.Project;
 import com.google.gerrit.entities.RefNames;
 import com.google.gerrit.extensions.restapi.AuthException;
+import com.google.gerrit.extensions.restapi.BadRequestException;
 import com.google.gerrit.extensions.restapi.Url;
 import com.google.gerrit.index.project.ProjectIndexer;
 import com.google.gerrit.server.CurrentUser;
 import com.google.gerrit.server.permissions.GlobalPermission;
 import com.google.gerrit.server.permissions.PermissionBackend;
 import com.google.gerrit.server.permissions.PermissionBackendException;
+import com.google.gerrit.server.project.ProjectCache;
 import com.google.inject.Inject;
 import com.google.inject.Provider;
 import com.google.inject.Singleton;
 import com.googlesource.gerrit.plugins.replication.LocalFS;
 import com.googlesource.gerrit.plugins.replication.pull.GerritConfigOps;
+import com.googlesource.gerrit.plugins.replication.pull.api.data.RevisionsInput;
+import com.googlesource.gerrit.plugins.replication.pull.api.exception.MissingParentObjectException;
+import com.googlesource.gerrit.plugins.replication.pull.api.exception.RefUpdateException;
+import com.googlesource.gerrit.plugins.replication.pull.api.util.PayloadSerDes;
 import java.io.IOException;
+import java.util.Arrays;
+import java.util.Objects;
 import java.util.Optional;
 import javax.servlet.ServletException;
 import javax.servlet.http.HttpServlet;
@@ -51,17 +65,23 @@
   private final Provider<CurrentUser> userProvider;
   private final PermissionBackend permissionBackend;
   private final ProjectIndexer projectIndexer;
+  private final ApplyObjectCommand applyObjectCommand;
+  private final ProjectCache projectCache;
 
   @Inject
   ProjectInitializationAction(
       GerritConfigOps gerritConfigOps,
       Provider<CurrentUser> userProvider,
       PermissionBackend permissionBackend,
-      ProjectIndexer projectIndexer) {
+      ProjectIndexer projectIndexer,
+      ApplyObjectCommand applyObjectCommand,
+      ProjectCache projectCache) {
     this.gerritConfigOps = gerritConfigOps;
     this.userProvider = userProvider;
     this.permissionBackend = permissionBackend;
     this.projectIndexer = projectIndexer;
+    this.applyObjectCommand = applyObjectCommand;
+    this.projectCache = projectCache;
   }
 
   @Override
@@ -73,47 +93,140 @@
       return;
     }
 
-    String path = httpServletRequest.getRequestURI();
-    String projectName = Url.decode(path.substring(path.lastIndexOf('/') + 1));
+    String gitRepositoryName = getGitRepositoryName(httpServletRequest);
     try {
-      if (initProject(projectName)) {
+      boolean initProjectStatus;
+      String contentType = httpServletRequest.getContentType();
+      if (checkContentType(contentType, MediaType.JSON_UTF_8)) {
+        // init project request includes project configuration in JSON format.
+        initProjectStatus = initProjectWithConfiguration(httpServletRequest, gitRepositoryName);
+      } else if (checkContentType(contentType, MediaType.PLAIN_TEXT_UTF_8)) {
+        // init project request does not include project configuration.
+        initProjectStatus = initProject(gitRepositoryName);
+      } else {
+        setResponse(
+            httpServletResponse,
+            SC_BAD_REQUEST,
+            String.format(
+                "Invalid Content Type. Only %s or %s is supported.",
+                MediaType.JSON_UTF_8.toString(), MediaType.PLAIN_TEXT_UTF_8.toString()));
+        return;
+      }
+
+      if (initProjectStatus) {
         setResponse(
             httpServletResponse,
             HttpServletResponse.SC_CREATED,
-            "Project " + projectName + " initialized");
+            "Project " + gitRepositoryName + " initialized");
         return;
       }
-    } catch (AuthException | PermissionBackendException e) {
+
       setResponse(
           httpServletResponse,
-          HttpServletResponse.SC_FORBIDDEN,
-          "User not authorized to create project " + projectName);
-      return;
+          HttpServletResponse.SC_INTERNAL_SERVER_ERROR,
+          "Cannot initialize project " + gitRepositoryName);
+    } catch (BadRequestException | IllegalArgumentException e) {
+      logExceptionAndUpdateResponse(httpServletResponse, e, SC_BAD_REQUEST, gitRepositoryName);
+    } catch (RefUpdateException | MissingParentObjectException e) {
+      logExceptionAndUpdateResponse(httpServletResponse, e, SC_CONFLICT, gitRepositoryName);
+    } catch (AuthException | PermissionBackendException e) {
+      logExceptionAndUpdateResponse(httpServletResponse, e, SC_FORBIDDEN, gitRepositoryName);
     }
-
-    setResponse(
-        httpServletResponse,
-        HttpServletResponse.SC_INTERNAL_SERVER_ERROR,
-        "Cannot initialize project " + projectName);
   }
 
-  public boolean initProject(String projectName) throws AuthException, PermissionBackendException {
+  public boolean initProject(String gitRepositoryName)
+      throws AuthException, PermissionBackendException {
+    if (initProject(gitRepositoryName, true)) {
+      repLog.info("Init project API from {}", gitRepositoryName);
+      return true;
+    }
+    return false;
+  }
+
+  private boolean initProjectWithConfiguration(
+      HttpServletRequest httpServletRequest, String gitRepositoryName)
+      throws AuthException, PermissionBackendException, IOException, BadRequestException,
+          MissingParentObjectException, RefUpdateException {
+
+    RevisionsInput input = PayloadSerDes.parseRevisionsInput(httpServletRequest);
+    validateInput(input);
+    if (!initProject(gitRepositoryName, false)) {
+      return false;
+    }
+
+    String projectName = gitRepositoryName.replace(".git", "");
+    applyObjectCommand.applyObjects(
+        Project.nameKey(projectName),
+        input.getRefName(),
+        input.getRevisionsData(),
+        input.getLabel(),
+        input.getEventCreatedOn());
+    projectCache.onCreateProject(Project.nameKey(projectName));
+    repLog.info(
+        "Init project API from {} for {}:{} - {}",
+        input.getLabel(),
+        projectName,
+        input.getRefName(),
+        Arrays.toString(input.getRevisionsData()));
+    return true;
+  }
+
+  private boolean initProject(String gitRepositoryName, boolean needsProjectReindexing)
+      throws AuthException, PermissionBackendException {
     // When triggered internally(for example by consuming stream events) user is not provided
     // and internal user is returned. Project creation should be always allowed for internal user.
     if (!userProvider.get().isInternalUser()) {
       permissionBackend.user(userProvider.get()).check(GlobalPermission.CREATE_PROJECT);
     }
-    Optional<URIish> maybeUri = gerritConfigOps.getGitRepositoryURI(projectName);
+    Optional<URIish> maybeUri = gerritConfigOps.getGitRepositoryURI(gitRepositoryName);
     if (!maybeUri.isPresent()) {
-      logger.atSevere().log("Cannot initialize project '%s'", projectName);
+      logger.atSevere().log("Cannot initialize project '%s'", gitRepositoryName);
       return false;
     }
     LocalFS localFS = new LocalFS(maybeUri.get());
-    Project.NameKey projectNameKey = Project.NameKey.parse(projectName);
+    Project.NameKey projectNameKey = Project.NameKey.parse(gitRepositoryName);
     if (localFS.createProject(projectNameKey, RefNames.HEAD)) {
-      projectIndexer.index(projectNameKey);
+      if (needsProjectReindexing) {
+        projectIndexer.index(projectNameKey);
+      }
       return true;
     }
     return false;
   }
+
+  private void validateInput(RevisionsInput input) {
+
+    if (Strings.isNullOrEmpty(input.getLabel())) {
+      throw new IllegalArgumentException("Source label cannot be null or empty");
+    }
+
+    if (!Objects.equals(input.getRefName(), RefNames.REFS_CONFIG)) {
+      throw new IllegalArgumentException(
+          String.format("Ref-update refname should be %s", RefNames.REFS_CONFIG));
+    }
+    input.validate();
+  }
+
+  private String getGitRepositoryName(HttpServletRequest httpServletRequest) {
+    String path = httpServletRequest.getRequestURI();
+    return Url.decode(path.substring(path.lastIndexOf('/') + 1));
+  }
+
+  private void logExceptionAndUpdateResponse(
+      HttpServletResponse httpServletResponse,
+      Exception e,
+      int statusCode,
+      String gitRepositoryName)
+      throws IOException {
+    repLog.error("Init Project API FAILED for {}", gitRepositoryName, e);
+    setResponse(httpServletResponse, statusCode, e.getMessage());
+  }
+
+  private boolean checkContentType(String contentType, MediaType mediaType) {
+    try {
+      return MediaType.parse(contentType).is(mediaType);
+    } catch (Exception e) {
+      return false;
+    }
+  }
 }
diff --git a/src/main/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/replication/pull/api/PullReplicationFilter.java b/src/main/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/replication/pull/api/PullReplicationFilter.java
index 6b903d8..f501e90 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/replication/pull/api/PullReplicationFilter.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/replication/pull/api/PullReplicationFilter.java
@@ -18,10 +18,8 @@
 import static com.googlesource.gerrit.plugins.replication.pull.api.HttpServletOps.checkAcceptHeader;
 import static javax.servlet.http.HttpServletResponse.SC_BAD_REQUEST;
 import static javax.servlet.http.HttpServletResponse.SC_CONFLICT;
-import static javax.servlet.http.HttpServletResponse.SC_CREATED;
 import static javax.servlet.http.HttpServletResponse.SC_FORBIDDEN;
 import static javax.servlet.http.HttpServletResponse.SC_INTERNAL_SERVER_ERROR;
-import static javax.servlet.http.HttpServletResponse.SC_OK;
 import static javax.servlet.http.HttpServletResponse.SC_UNAUTHORIZED;
 
 import com.google.common.flogger.FluentLogger;
@@ -38,28 +36,22 @@
 import com.google.gerrit.extensions.restapi.UnprocessableEntityException;
 import com.google.gerrit.httpd.AllRequestFilter;
 import com.google.gerrit.httpd.restapi.RestApiServlet;
-import com.google.gerrit.json.OutputFormat;
 import com.google.gerrit.server.AnonymousUser;
 import com.google.gerrit.server.CurrentUser;
 import com.google.gerrit.server.permissions.PermissionBackendException;
 import com.google.gerrit.server.project.ProjectCache;
 import com.google.gerrit.server.project.ProjectResource;
 import com.google.gerrit.server.project.ProjectState;
-import com.google.gson.Gson;
 import com.google.gson.JsonParseException;
-import com.google.gson.stream.JsonReader;
 import com.google.gson.stream.MalformedJsonException;
 import com.google.inject.Inject;
 import com.google.inject.Provider;
-import com.google.inject.TypeLiteral;
 import com.googlesource.gerrit.plugins.replication.pull.api.FetchAction.Input;
 import com.googlesource.gerrit.plugins.replication.pull.api.data.RevisionInput;
 import com.googlesource.gerrit.plugins.replication.pull.api.data.RevisionsInput;
 import com.googlesource.gerrit.plugins.replication.pull.api.exception.UnauthorizedAuthException;
-import java.io.BufferedReader;
-import java.io.EOFException;
+import com.googlesource.gerrit.plugins.replication.pull.api.util.PayloadSerDes;
 import java.io.IOException;
-import java.io.PrintWriter;
 import java.util.Map;
 import java.util.NoSuchElementException;
 import java.util.Optional;
@@ -86,7 +78,6 @@
   private UpdateHeadAction updateHEADAction;
   private ProjectDeletionAction projectDeletionAction;
   private ProjectCache projectCache;
-  private Gson gson;
   private String pluginName;
   private final Provider<CurrentUser> currentUserProvider;
 
@@ -109,7 +100,6 @@
     this.projectDeletionAction = projectDeletionAction;
     this.projectCache = projectCache;
     this.pluginName = pluginName;
-    this.gson = OutputFormat.JSON.newGsonBuilder().create();
     this.currentUserProvider = currentUserProvider;
   }
 
@@ -126,13 +116,13 @@
     try {
       if (isFetchAction(httpRequest)) {
         failIfcurrentUserIsAnonymous();
-        writeResponse(httpResponse, doFetch(httpRequest));
+        PayloadSerDes.writeResponse(httpResponse, doFetch(httpRequest));
       } else if (isApplyObjectAction(httpRequest)) {
         failIfcurrentUserIsAnonymous();
-        writeResponse(httpResponse, doApplyObject(httpRequest));
+        PayloadSerDes.writeResponse(httpResponse, doApplyObject(httpRequest));
       } else if (isApplyObjectsAction(httpRequest)) {
         failIfcurrentUserIsAnonymous();
-        writeResponse(httpResponse, doApplyObjects(httpRequest));
+        PayloadSerDes.writeResponse(httpResponse, doApplyObjects(httpRequest));
       } else if (isInitProjectAction(httpRequest)) {
         failIfcurrentUserIsAnonymous();
         if (!checkAcceptHeader(httpRequest, httpResponse)) {
@@ -141,10 +131,10 @@
         doInitProject(httpRequest, httpResponse);
       } else if (isUpdateHEADAction(httpRequest)) {
         failIfcurrentUserIsAnonymous();
-        writeResponse(httpResponse, doUpdateHEAD(httpRequest));
+        PayloadSerDes.writeResponse(httpResponse, doUpdateHEAD(httpRequest));
       } else if (isDeleteProjectAction(httpRequest)) {
         failIfcurrentUserIsAnonymous();
-        writeResponse(httpResponse, doDeleteProject(httpRequest));
+        PayloadSerDes.writeResponse(httpResponse, doDeleteProject(httpRequest));
       } else {
         chain.doFilter(request, response);
       }
@@ -199,7 +189,7 @@
   @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
   private Response<String> doApplyObject(HttpServletRequest httpRequest)
       throws RestApiException, IOException, PermissionBackendException {
-    RevisionInput input = readJson(httpRequest, TypeLiteral.get(RevisionInput.class));
+    RevisionInput input = PayloadSerDes.parseRevisionInput(httpRequest);
     IdString id = getProjectName(httpRequest).get();
 
     return (Response<String>) applyObjectAction.apply(parseProjectResource(id), input);
@@ -208,7 +198,7 @@
   @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
   private Response<String> doApplyObjects(HttpServletRequest httpRequest)
       throws RestApiException, IOException, PermissionBackendException {
-    RevisionsInput input = readJson(httpRequest, TypeLiteral.get(RevisionsInput.class));
+    RevisionsInput input = PayloadSerDes.parseRevisionsInput(httpRequest);
     IdString id = getProjectName(httpRequest).get();
 
     return (Response<String>) applyObjectsAction.apply(parseProjectResource(id), input);
@@ -216,7 +206,7 @@
 
   @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
   private Response<String> doUpdateHEAD(HttpServletRequest httpRequest) throws Exception {
-    HeadInput input = readJson(httpRequest, TypeLiteral.get(HeadInput.class));
+    HeadInput input = PayloadSerDes.parseHeadInput(httpRequest);
     IdString id = getProjectName(httpRequest).get();
 
     return (Response<String>) updateHEADAction.apply(parseProjectResource(id), input);
@@ -233,7 +223,7 @@
   @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
   private Response<Map<String, Object>> doFetch(HttpServletRequest httpRequest)
       throws IOException, RestApiException, PermissionBackendException {
-    Input input = readJson(httpRequest, TypeLiteral.get(Input.class));
+    Input input = PayloadSerDes.parseInput(httpRequest);
     IdString id = getProjectName(httpRequest).get();
 
     return (Response<Map<String, Object>>) fetchAction.apply(parseProjectResource(id), input);
@@ -247,50 +237,6 @@
     return new ProjectResource(project.get(), currentUserProvider.get());
   }
 
-  private <T> void writeResponse(HttpServletResponse httpResponse, Response<T> response)
-      throws IOException {
-    String responseJson = gson.toJson(response);
-    if (response.statusCode() == SC_OK || response.statusCode() == SC_CREATED) {
-
-      httpResponse.setContentType("application/json");
-      httpResponse.setStatus(response.statusCode());
-      PrintWriter writer = httpResponse.getWriter();
-      writer.print(new String(RestApiServlet.JSON_MAGIC));
-      writer.print(responseJson);
-    } else {
-      httpResponse.sendError(response.statusCode(), responseJson);
-    }
-  }
-
-  private <T> T readJson(HttpServletRequest httpRequest, TypeLiteral<T> typeLiteral)
-      throws IOException, BadRequestException {
-
-    try (BufferedReader br = httpRequest.getReader();
-        JsonReader json = new JsonReader(br)) {
-      try {
-        json.setLenient(true);
-
-        try {
-          json.peek();
-        } catch (EOFException e) {
-          throw new BadRequestException("Expected JSON object", e);
-        }
-
-        return gson.fromJson(json, typeLiteral.getType());
-      } finally {
-        try {
-          // Reader.close won't consume the rest of the input. Explicitly consume the request
-          // body.
-          br.skip(Long.MAX_VALUE);
-        } catch (Exception e) {
-          // ignore, e.g. trying to consume the rest of the input may fail if the request was
-          // cancelled
-          logger.atFine().withCause(e).log("Exception during the parsing of the request json");
-        }
-      }
-    }
-  }
-
   /**
    * Return project name from request URI. Request URI format:
    * /a/projects/<project_name>/pull-replication~apply-object
diff --git a/src/main/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/replication/pull/api/util/PayloadSerDes.java b/src/main/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/replication/pull/api/util/PayloadSerDes.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..414af37
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/main/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/replication/pull/api/util/PayloadSerDes.java
@@ -0,0 +1,106 @@
+// Copyright (C) 2023 The Android Open Source Project
+//
+// Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+// you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+// You may obtain a copy of the License at
+//
+// http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+//
+// Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+// distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+// WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+// See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+// limitations under the License.
+
+package com.googlesource.gerrit.plugins.replication.pull.api.util;
+
+import static javax.servlet.http.HttpServletResponse.SC_CREATED;
+import static javax.servlet.http.HttpServletResponse.SC_OK;
+
+import com.google.common.flogger.FluentLogger;
+import com.google.gerrit.extensions.api.projects.HeadInput;
+import com.google.gerrit.extensions.restapi.BadRequestException;
+import com.google.gerrit.extensions.restapi.Response;
+import com.google.gerrit.httpd.restapi.RestApiServlet;
+import com.google.gerrit.json.OutputFormat;
+import com.google.gson.Gson;
+import com.google.gson.stream.JsonReader;
+import com.google.inject.TypeLiteral;
+import com.googlesource.gerrit.plugins.replication.pull.api.FetchAction;
+import com.googlesource.gerrit.plugins.replication.pull.api.data.RevisionInput;
+import com.googlesource.gerrit.plugins.replication.pull.api.data.RevisionsInput;
+import java.io.BufferedReader;
+import java.io.EOFException;
+import java.io.IOException;
+import java.io.PrintWriter;
+import javax.servlet.http.HttpServletRequest;
+import javax.servlet.http.HttpServletResponse;
+
+public class PayloadSerDes {
+  private static final FluentLogger logger = FluentLogger.forEnclosingClass();
+  private static final Gson gson = OutputFormat.JSON.newGsonBuilder().create();
+
+  public static RevisionInput parseRevisionInput(HttpServletRequest httpRequest)
+      throws BadRequestException, IOException {
+    return parse(httpRequest, TypeLiteral.get(RevisionInput.class));
+  }
+
+  public static RevisionsInput parseRevisionsInput(HttpServletRequest httpRequest)
+      throws BadRequestException, IOException {
+    return parse(httpRequest, TypeLiteral.get(RevisionsInput.class));
+  }
+
+  public static HeadInput parseHeadInput(HttpServletRequest httpRequest)
+      throws BadRequestException, IOException {
+    return parse(httpRequest, TypeLiteral.get(HeadInput.class));
+  }
+
+  public static FetchAction.Input parseInput(HttpServletRequest httpRequest)
+      throws BadRequestException, IOException {
+    return parse(httpRequest, TypeLiteral.get(FetchAction.Input.class));
+  }
+
+  public static <T> void writeResponse(HttpServletResponse httpResponse, Response<T> response)
+      throws IOException {
+    String responseJson = gson.toJson(response);
+    if (response.statusCode() == SC_OK || response.statusCode() == SC_CREATED) {
+
+      httpResponse.setContentType("application/json");
+      httpResponse.setStatus(response.statusCode());
+      PrintWriter writer = httpResponse.getWriter();
+      writer.print(new String(RestApiServlet.JSON_MAGIC));
+      writer.print(responseJson);
+    } else {
+      httpResponse.sendError(response.statusCode(), responseJson);
+    }
+  }
+
+  private static <T> T parse(HttpServletRequest httpRequest, TypeLiteral<T> typeLiteral)
+      throws IOException, BadRequestException {
+
+    try (BufferedReader br = httpRequest.getReader();
+        JsonReader json = new JsonReader(br)) {
+      try {
+        json.setLenient(true);
+
+        try {
+          json.peek();
+        } catch (EOFException e) {
+          throw new BadRequestException("Expected JSON object", e);
+        }
+
+        return gson.fromJson(json, typeLiteral.getType());
+      } finally {
+        try {
+          // Reader.close won't consume the rest of the input. Explicitly consume the request
+          // body.
+          br.skip(Long.MAX_VALUE);
+        } catch (Exception e) {
+          // ignore, e.g. trying to consume the rest of the input may fail if the request was
+          // cancelled
+          logger.atFine().withCause(e).log("Exception during the parsing of the request json");
+        }
+      }
+    }
+  }
+}
diff --git a/src/main/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/replication/pull/client/FetchApiClient.java b/src/main/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/replication/pull/client/FetchApiClient.java
index 1991260..f7ed4cb 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/replication/pull/client/FetchApiClient.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/replication/pull/client/FetchApiClient.java
@@ -40,7 +40,22 @@
     return callFetch(project, refName, targetUri, MILLISECONDS.toNanos(System.currentTimeMillis()));
   }
 
-  HttpResult initProject(Project.NameKey project, URIish uri) throws IOException;
+  /**
+   * Replicates the creation of a project, including the configuration stored in refs/meta/config.
+   *
+   * @param project The unique name of the project.
+   * @param uri The destination URI where the project and its configuration should be replicated to.
+   * @param eventCreatedOn The timestamp indicating when the init project event occurred.
+   * @param refsMetaConfigRevisionData A history of revisions for the refs/meta/config ref.
+   * @return An HTTP result object providing information about the replication process.
+   * @throws IOException If an I/O error occurs during the replication.
+   */
+  HttpResult initProject(
+      Project.NameKey project,
+      URIish uri,
+      long eventCreatedOn,
+      List<RevisionData> refsMetaConfigRevisionData)
+      throws IOException;
 
   HttpResult deleteProject(Project.NameKey project, URIish apiUri) throws IOException;
 
diff --git a/src/main/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/replication/pull/client/FetchRestApiClient.java b/src/main/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/replication/pull/client/FetchRestApiClient.java
index b606ba8..7607e4b 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/replication/pull/client/FetchRestApiClient.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/replication/pull/client/FetchRestApiClient.java
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@
 import com.google.gerrit.common.Nullable;
 import com.google.gerrit.entities.Project;
 import com.google.gerrit.entities.Project.NameKey;
+import com.google.gerrit.entities.RefNames;
 import com.google.gerrit.extensions.annotations.PluginName;
 import com.google.gerrit.extensions.restapi.Url;
 import com.google.gerrit.server.config.GerritInstanceId;
@@ -130,14 +131,29 @@
   }
 
   /* (non-Javadoc)
-   * @see com.googlesource.gerrit.plugins.replication.pull.client.FetchApiClient#initProject(com.google.gerrit.entities.Project.NameKey, org.eclipse.jgit.transport.URIish)
+   * @see com.googlesource.gerrit.plugins.replication.pull.client.FetchApiClient#initProject(com.google.gerrit.entities.Project.NameKey, org.eclipse.jgit.transport.URIish, long, java.util.List<com.googlesource.gerrit.plugins.replication.pull.api.data.RevisionData>)
    */
   @Override
-  public HttpResult initProject(Project.NameKey project, URIish uri) throws IOException {
+  public HttpResult initProject(
+      NameKey project,
+      URIish uri,
+      long eventCreatedOn,
+      List<RevisionData> refsMetaConfigRevisionData)
+      throws IOException {
     String url = formatInitProjectUrl(uri.toString(), project);
+
+    RevisionData[] inputData = new RevisionData[refsMetaConfigRevisionData.size()];
+    RevisionsInput input =
+        new RevisionsInput(
+            instanceId,
+            RefNames.REFS_CONFIG,
+            eventCreatedOn,
+            refsMetaConfigRevisionData.toArray(inputData));
+
     HttpPut put = new HttpPut(url);
+    put.setEntity(new StringEntity(GSON.toJson(input)));
     put.addHeader(new BasicHeader("Accept", MediaType.ANY_TEXT_TYPE.toString()));
-    put.addHeader(new BasicHeader("Content-Type", MediaType.PLAIN_TEXT_UTF_8.toString()));
+    put.addHeader(new BasicHeader("Content-Type", MediaType.JSON_UTF_8.toString()));
     return executeRequest(put, bearerTokenProvider.get(), uri);
   }
 
diff --git a/src/main/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/replication/pull/fetch/CGitFetch.java b/src/main/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/replication/pull/fetch/CGitFetch.java
index d3e45da..43ec9bf 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/replication/pull/fetch/CGitFetch.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/replication/pull/fetch/CGitFetch.java
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@
   private URIish uri;
   private int timeout;
   private final String taskIdHex;
+  private final boolean isMirror;
 
   @Inject
   public CGitFetch(
@@ -56,12 +57,17 @@
     this.taskIdHex = taskIdHex;
     this.uri = appendCredentials(uri, cpFactory.create(config.getRemoteConfig().getName()));
     this.timeout = config.getRemoteConfig().getTimeout();
+    this.isMirror = config.getRemoteConfig().isMirror();
   }
 
   @Override
   public List<RefUpdateState> fetch(List<RefSpec> refsSpec) throws IOException {
     List<String> refs = refsSpec.stream().map(s -> s.toString()).collect(Collectors.toList());
-    List<String> command = Lists.newArrayList("git", "fetch", uri.toPrivateASCIIString());
+    List<String> command = Lists.newArrayList("git", "fetch");
+    if (isMirror) {
+      command.add("--prune");
+    }
+    command.add(uri.toPrivateASCIIString());
     command.addAll(refs);
     ProcessBuilder pb = new ProcessBuilder().command(command).directory(localProjectDirectory);
     repLog.info("[{}] Fetch references {} from {}", taskIdHex, refs, uri);
diff --git a/src/main/resources/Documentation/config.md b/src/main/resources/Documentation/config.md
index b7db2c0..61d62b4 100644
--- a/src/main/resources/Documentation/config.md
+++ b/src/main/resources/Documentation/config.md
@@ -526,8 +526,7 @@
 remote.NAME.mirror
 :	If true, replication will remove local branches and tags that are
 absent remotely or invisible to the replication (for example read access
-denied via `authGroup` option). Note that this option is currently
-implemented for the JGit client only.
+denied via `authGroup` option).
 
 	By default, false, do not remove remote branches or tags.
 
diff --git a/src/test/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/replication/pull/CGitFetchIT.java b/src/test/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/replication/pull/CGitFetchIT.java
index baacf20..3ca937c 100644
--- a/src/test/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/replication/pull/CGitFetchIT.java
+++ b/src/test/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/replication/pull/CGitFetchIT.java
@@ -15,6 +15,9 @@
 package com.googlesource.gerrit.plugins.replication.pull;
 
 import static com.google.common.truth.Truth.assertThat;
+import static com.google.gerrit.acceptance.GitUtil.deleteRef;
+import static com.google.gerrit.acceptance.GitUtil.pushHead;
+import static com.google.gerrit.acceptance.testsuite.project.TestProjectUpdate.allow;
 import static org.mockito.Mockito.any;
 import static org.mockito.Mockito.mock;
 import static org.mockito.Mockito.times;
@@ -22,35 +25,33 @@
 import static org.mockito.Mockito.when;
 
 import com.google.common.collect.Lists;
+import com.google.gerrit.acceptance.PushOneCommit;
 import com.google.gerrit.acceptance.PushOneCommit.Result;
 import com.google.gerrit.acceptance.SkipProjectClone;
 import com.google.gerrit.acceptance.TestPlugin;
 import com.google.gerrit.acceptance.UseLocalDisk;
+import com.google.gerrit.acceptance.testsuite.project.ProjectOperations;
+import com.google.gerrit.entities.Permission;
 import com.google.gerrit.extensions.api.projects.BranchInput;
-import com.google.gerrit.extensions.config.FactoryModule;
-import com.google.inject.Scopes;
-import com.google.inject.assistedinject.FactoryModuleBuilder;
-import com.googlesource.gerrit.plugins.replication.AutoReloadSecureCredentialsFactoryDecorator;
-import com.googlesource.gerrit.plugins.replication.CredentialsFactory;
-import com.googlesource.gerrit.plugins.replication.ReplicationConfig;
-import com.googlesource.gerrit.plugins.replication.ReplicationFileBasedConfig;
+import com.google.inject.Inject;
 import com.googlesource.gerrit.plugins.replication.pull.fetch.BatchFetchClient;
 import com.googlesource.gerrit.plugins.replication.pull.fetch.CGitFetch;
 import com.googlesource.gerrit.plugins.replication.pull.fetch.Fetch;
-import com.googlesource.gerrit.plugins.replication.pull.fetch.FetchClientImplementation;
 import com.googlesource.gerrit.plugins.replication.pull.fetch.FetchFactory;
 import com.googlesource.gerrit.plugins.replication.pull.fetch.RefUpdateState;
-import java.net.URISyntaxException;
 import java.util.List;
 import org.eclipse.jgit.errors.TransportException;
 import org.eclipse.jgit.lib.Config;
+import org.eclipse.jgit.lib.Constants;
 import org.eclipse.jgit.lib.Ref;
 import org.eclipse.jgit.lib.RefUpdate;
 import org.eclipse.jgit.lib.Repository;
 import org.eclipse.jgit.revwalk.RevCommit;
+import org.eclipse.jgit.transport.PushResult;
 import org.eclipse.jgit.transport.RefSpec;
 import org.eclipse.jgit.transport.RemoteConfig;
 import org.eclipse.jgit.transport.URIish;
+import org.junit.Before;
 import org.junit.Test;
 
 @SkipProjectClone
@@ -62,6 +63,16 @@
   private static final String TEST_REPLICATION_SUFFIX = "suffix1";
   private static final String TEST_TASK_ID = "taskid";
 
+  @Inject private ProjectOperations projectOperations;
+
+  @Before
+  public void allowRefDeletion() {
+    projectOperations
+        .allProjectsForUpdate()
+        .add(allow(Permission.DELETE).ref("refs/*").group(adminGroupUuid()))
+        .update();
+  }
+
   @Test
   public void shouldFetchRef() throws Exception {
     testRepo = cloneProject(createTestProject(project + TEST_REPLICATION_SUFFIX));
@@ -224,29 +235,55 @@
     }
   }
 
+  @Test
+  public void shouldNotPruneRefsWhenMirrorIsUnset() throws Exception {
+    testRepo = cloneProject(createTestProject(project + TEST_REPLICATION_SUFFIX));
+    String BRANCH_REF = Constants.R_HEADS + "anyBranch";
+    String TAG_REF = Constants.R_TAGS + "anyTag";
+
+    PushOneCommit.Result branchPush = pushFactory.create(user.newIdent(), testRepo).to(BRANCH_REF);
+    branchPush.assertOkStatus();
+
+    PushResult tagPush = pushHead(testRepo, TAG_REF, false, false);
+    assertOkStatus(tagPush, TAG_REF);
+
+    try (Repository localRepo = repoManager.openRepository(project)) {
+      fetchAllRefs(TEST_TASK_ID, testRepoPath, localRepo);
+      waitUntil(
+          () ->
+              checkedGetRef(localRepo, BRANCH_REF) != null
+                  && checkedGetRef(localRepo, TAG_REF) != null);
+      assertThat(getRef(localRepo, BRANCH_REF)).isNotNull();
+      assertThat(getRef(localRepo, TAG_REF)).isNotNull();
+
+      PushResult deleteBranchResult = deleteRef(testRepo, BRANCH_REF);
+      assertOkStatus(deleteBranchResult, BRANCH_REF);
+
+      PushResult deleteTagResult = deleteRef(testRepo, TAG_REF);
+      assertOkStatus(deleteTagResult, TAG_REF);
+
+      fetchAllRefs(TEST_TASK_ID, testRepoPath, localRepo);
+      waitUntil(
+          () ->
+              checkedGetRef(localRepo, BRANCH_REF) != null
+                  && checkedGetRef(localRepo, TAG_REF) != null);
+      assertThat(getRef(localRepo, BRANCH_REF)).isNotNull();
+      assertThat(getRef(localRepo, TAG_REF)).isNotNull();
+    }
+  }
+
   @SuppressWarnings("unused")
-  private static class TestModule extends FactoryModule {
+  private static class TestModule extends FetchModule<CGitFetch> {
     @Override
-    protected void configure() {
+    Class<CGitFetch> clientClass() {
+      return CGitFetch.class;
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    Config cf() {
       Config cf = new Config();
       cf.setInt("remote", "test_config", "timeout", 0);
-      try {
-        RemoteConfig remoteConfig = new RemoteConfig(cf, "test_config");
-        SourceConfiguration sourceConfig = new SourceConfiguration(remoteConfig, cf);
-        bind(ReplicationConfig.class).to(ReplicationFileBasedConfig.class);
-        bind(CredentialsFactory.class)
-            .to(AutoReloadSecureCredentialsFactoryDecorator.class)
-            .in(Scopes.SINGLETON);
-
-        bind(SourceConfiguration.class).toInstance(sourceConfig);
-        install(
-            new FactoryModuleBuilder()
-                .implement(Fetch.class, CGitFetch.class)
-                .implement(Fetch.class, FetchClientImplementation.class, CGitFetch.class)
-                .build(FetchFactory.class));
-      } catch (URISyntaxException e) {
-        throw new RuntimeException(e);
-      }
+      return cf;
     }
   }
 }
diff --git a/src/test/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/replication/pull/CGitFetchWithMirrorIT.java b/src/test/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/replication/pull/CGitFetchWithMirrorIT.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8a3bae9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/test/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/replication/pull/CGitFetchWithMirrorIT.java
@@ -0,0 +1,108 @@
+// Copyright (C) 2023 The Android Open Source Project
+//
+// Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+// you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+// You may obtain a copy of the License at
+//
+// http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+//
+// Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+// distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+// WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+// See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+// limitations under the License.
+
+package com.googlesource.gerrit.plugins.replication.pull;
+
+import static com.google.common.truth.Truth.assertThat;
+import static com.google.gerrit.acceptance.GitUtil.deleteRef;
+import static com.google.gerrit.acceptance.GitUtil.pushHead;
+import static com.google.gerrit.acceptance.testsuite.project.TestProjectUpdate.allow;
+
+import com.google.gerrit.acceptance.PushOneCommit.Result;
+import com.google.gerrit.acceptance.SkipProjectClone;
+import com.google.gerrit.acceptance.TestPlugin;
+import com.google.gerrit.acceptance.UseLocalDisk;
+import com.google.gerrit.acceptance.testsuite.project.ProjectOperations;
+import com.google.gerrit.entities.Permission;
+import com.google.inject.Inject;
+import com.googlesource.gerrit.plugins.replication.pull.fetch.CGitFetch;
+import org.eclipse.jgit.lib.Config;
+import org.eclipse.jgit.lib.Constants;
+import org.eclipse.jgit.lib.Repository;
+import org.eclipse.jgit.transport.PushResult;
+import org.junit.Before;
+import org.junit.Test;
+
+@SkipProjectClone
+@UseLocalDisk
+@TestPlugin(
+    name = "pull-replication",
+    sysModule = "com.googlesource.gerrit.plugins.replication.pull.CGitFetchWithMirrorIT$TestModule")
+public class CGitFetchWithMirrorIT extends FetchITBase {
+  private static final String TEST_REPLICATION_SUFFIX = "suffix1";
+  private static final String TEST_TASK_ID = "taskid";
+
+  @Inject private ProjectOperations projectOperations;
+
+  @Before
+  public void allowRefDeletion() {
+    projectOperations
+        .allProjectsForUpdate()
+        .add(allow(Permission.DELETE).ref("refs/*").group(adminGroupUuid()))
+        .update();
+  }
+
+  @Test
+  public void shouldPruneRefsWhenMirrorIsTrue() throws Exception {
+    testRepo = cloneProject(createTestProject(project + TEST_REPLICATION_SUFFIX));
+    String BRANCH_REF = Constants.R_HEADS + "anyBranch";
+    String TAG_REF = Constants.R_TAGS + "anyTag";
+
+    Result branchPush = pushFactory.create(user.newIdent(), testRepo).to(BRANCH_REF);
+    branchPush.assertOkStatus();
+
+    PushResult tagPush = pushHead(testRepo, TAG_REF, false, false);
+    assertOkStatus(tagPush, TAG_REF);
+
+    try (Repository localRepo = repoManager.openRepository(project)) {
+      fetchAllRefs(TEST_TASK_ID, testRepoPath, localRepo);
+      waitUntil(
+          () ->
+              checkedGetRef(localRepo, BRANCH_REF) != null
+                  && checkedGetRef(localRepo, TAG_REF) != null);
+      assertThat(getRef(localRepo, BRANCH_REF)).isNotNull();
+      assertThat(getRef(localRepo, TAG_REF)).isNotNull();
+
+      PushResult deleteBranchResult = deleteRef(testRepo, BRANCH_REF);
+      assertOkStatus(deleteBranchResult, BRANCH_REF);
+
+      PushResult deleteTagResult = deleteRef(testRepo, TAG_REF);
+      assertOkStatus(deleteTagResult, TAG_REF);
+
+      fetchAllRefs(TEST_TASK_ID, testRepoPath, localRepo);
+      waitUntil(
+          () ->
+              checkedGetRef(localRepo, BRANCH_REF) == null
+                  && checkedGetRef(localRepo, TAG_REF) == null);
+      assertThat(getRef(localRepo, BRANCH_REF)).isNull();
+      assertThat(getRef(localRepo, TAG_REF)).isNull();
+    }
+  }
+
+  @SuppressWarnings("unused")
+  private static class TestModule extends FetchModule<CGitFetch> {
+    @Override
+    Class<CGitFetch> clientClass() {
+      return CGitFetch.class;
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    Config cf() {
+      Config cf = new Config();
+      cf.setInt("remote", "test_config", "timeout", 0);
+      cf.setBoolean("remote", "test_config", "mirror", true);
+      return cf;
+    }
+  }
+}
diff --git a/src/test/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/replication/pull/FetchITBase.java b/src/test/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/replication/pull/FetchITBase.java
index be9f902..3429983 100644
--- a/src/test/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/replication/pull/FetchITBase.java
+++ b/src/test/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/replication/pull/FetchITBase.java
@@ -14,18 +14,39 @@
 
 package com.googlesource.gerrit.plugins.replication.pull;
 
+import static com.google.common.truth.Truth.assertThat;
+import static com.google.common.truth.Truth.assertWithMessage;
+
+import com.google.common.collect.Lists;
 import com.google.common.flogger.FluentLogger;
 import com.google.gerrit.acceptance.LightweightPluginDaemonTest;
 import com.google.gerrit.acceptance.testsuite.project.ProjectOperations;
 import com.google.gerrit.entities.Project;
+import com.google.gerrit.extensions.config.FactoryModule;
 import com.google.gerrit.server.config.SitePaths;
 import com.google.inject.Inject;
+import com.google.inject.Scopes;
+import com.google.inject.assistedinject.FactoryModuleBuilder;
+import com.googlesource.gerrit.plugins.replication.AutoReloadSecureCredentialsFactoryDecorator;
+import com.googlesource.gerrit.plugins.replication.CredentialsFactory;
+import com.googlesource.gerrit.plugins.replication.ReplicationConfig;
+import com.googlesource.gerrit.plugins.replication.ReplicationFileBasedConfig;
+import com.googlesource.gerrit.plugins.replication.pull.fetch.Fetch;
+import com.googlesource.gerrit.plugins.replication.pull.fetch.FetchClientImplementation;
 import com.googlesource.gerrit.plugins.replication.pull.fetch.FetchFactory;
+import java.io.IOException;
+import java.net.URISyntaxException;
 import java.nio.file.Path;
 import java.time.Duration;
 import java.util.function.Supplier;
+import org.eclipse.jgit.lib.Config;
 import org.eclipse.jgit.lib.Ref;
 import org.eclipse.jgit.lib.Repository;
+import org.eclipse.jgit.transport.PushResult;
+import org.eclipse.jgit.transport.RefSpec;
+import org.eclipse.jgit.transport.RemoteConfig;
+import org.eclipse.jgit.transport.RemoteRefUpdate;
+import org.eclipse.jgit.transport.URIish;
 
 public abstract class FetchITBase extends LightweightPluginDaemonTest {
   private static final String TEST_REPLICATION_SUFFIX = "suffix1";
@@ -33,6 +54,7 @@
 
   private static final int TEST_REPLICATION_DELAY = 60;
   private static final Duration TEST_TIMEOUT = Duration.ofSeconds(TEST_REPLICATION_DELAY * 2);
+  private static final RefSpec ALL_REFS = new RefSpec("+refs/*:refs/*");
 
   @Inject private SitePaths sitePaths;
   @Inject private ProjectOperations projectOperations;
@@ -66,7 +88,49 @@
     }
   }
 
+  protected void fetchAllRefs(String taskId, Path remotePath, Repository localRepo)
+      throws URISyntaxException, IOException {
+    fetchFactory
+        .create(taskId, new URIish(remotePath.toString()), localRepo)
+        .fetch(Lists.newArrayList(ALL_REFS));
+  }
+
+  protected static void assertOkStatus(PushResult result, String ref) {
+    RemoteRefUpdate refUpdate = result.getRemoteUpdate(ref);
+    assertThat(refUpdate).isNotNull();
+    assertWithMessage(refUpdate.getMessage())
+        .that(refUpdate.getStatus())
+        .isEqualTo(RemoteRefUpdate.Status.OK);
+  }
+
   Project.NameKey createTestProject(String name) {
     return projectOperations.newProject().name(name).create();
   }
+
+  protected abstract static class FetchModule<T extends Fetch> extends FactoryModule {
+    abstract Config cf();
+
+    abstract Class<T> clientClass();
+
+    @Override
+    protected void configure() {
+      try {
+        RemoteConfig remoteConfig = new RemoteConfig(cf(), "test_config");
+        SourceConfiguration sourceConfig = new SourceConfiguration(remoteConfig, cf());
+        bind(ReplicationConfig.class).to(ReplicationFileBasedConfig.class);
+        bind(CredentialsFactory.class)
+            .to(AutoReloadSecureCredentialsFactoryDecorator.class)
+            .in(Scopes.SINGLETON);
+
+        bind(SourceConfiguration.class).toInstance(sourceConfig);
+        install(
+            new FactoryModuleBuilder()
+                .implement(Fetch.class, clientClass())
+                .implement(Fetch.class, FetchClientImplementation.class, clientClass())
+                .build(FetchFactory.class));
+      } catch (URISyntaxException e) {
+        throw new RuntimeException(e);
+      }
+    }
+  }
 }
diff --git a/src/test/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/replication/pull/JGitFetchIT.java b/src/test/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/replication/pull/JGitFetchIT.java
index 77cf80d..b900d8a 100644
--- a/src/test/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/replication/pull/JGitFetchIT.java
+++ b/src/test/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/replication/pull/JGitFetchIT.java
@@ -15,7 +15,6 @@
 package com.googlesource.gerrit.plugins.replication.pull;
 
 import static com.google.common.truth.Truth.assertThat;
-import static com.google.common.truth.Truth.assertWithMessage;
 import static com.google.gerrit.acceptance.GitUtil.deleteRef;
 import static com.google.gerrit.acceptance.GitUtil.pushHead;
 import static com.google.gerrit.acceptance.testsuite.project.TestProjectUpdate.allow;
@@ -27,31 +26,15 @@
 import com.google.gerrit.acceptance.UseLocalDisk;
 import com.google.gerrit.acceptance.testsuite.project.ProjectOperations;
 import com.google.gerrit.entities.Permission;
-import com.google.gerrit.extensions.config.FactoryModule;
 import com.google.inject.Inject;
-import com.google.inject.Scopes;
-import com.google.inject.assistedinject.FactoryModuleBuilder;
-import com.googlesource.gerrit.plugins.replication.AutoReloadSecureCredentialsFactoryDecorator;
-import com.googlesource.gerrit.plugins.replication.CredentialsFactory;
-import com.googlesource.gerrit.plugins.replication.ReplicationConfig;
-import com.googlesource.gerrit.plugins.replication.ReplicationFileBasedConfig;
 import com.googlesource.gerrit.plugins.replication.pull.fetch.Fetch;
-import com.googlesource.gerrit.plugins.replication.pull.fetch.FetchClientImplementation;
-import com.googlesource.gerrit.plugins.replication.pull.fetch.FetchFactory;
 import com.googlesource.gerrit.plugins.replication.pull.fetch.JGitFetch;
 import com.googlesource.gerrit.plugins.replication.pull.fetch.PermanentTransportException;
-import com.googlesource.gerrit.plugins.replication.pull.fetch.RefUpdateState;
-import java.io.IOException;
-import java.net.URISyntaxException;
-import java.util.List;
 import org.eclipse.jgit.lib.Config;
 import org.eclipse.jgit.lib.Constants;
-import org.eclipse.jgit.lib.RefUpdate;
 import org.eclipse.jgit.lib.Repository;
 import org.eclipse.jgit.transport.PushResult;
 import org.eclipse.jgit.transport.RefSpec;
-import org.eclipse.jgit.transport.RemoteConfig;
-import org.eclipse.jgit.transport.RemoteRefUpdate;
 import org.eclipse.jgit.transport.URIish;
 import org.junit.Before;
 import org.junit.Test;
@@ -64,7 +47,6 @@
 public class JGitFetchIT extends FetchITBase {
   private static final String TEST_REPLICATION_SUFFIX = "suffix1";
   private static final String TEST_TASK_ID = "taskid";
-  private static final RefSpec ALL_REFS = new RefSpec("+refs/*:refs/*");
 
   @Inject private ProjectOperations projectOperations;
 
@@ -89,12 +71,10 @@
   }
 
   @Test
-  public void shouldPruneRefsWhenMirrorIsTrue() throws Exception {
+  public void shouldPruneRefsWhenMirrorIsUnset() throws Exception {
     testRepo = cloneProject(createTestProject(project + TEST_REPLICATION_SUFFIX));
-    String branchName = "anyBranch";
-    String branchRef = Constants.R_HEADS + branchName;
-    String tagName = "anyTag";
-    String tagRef = Constants.R_TAGS + tagName;
+    String branchRef = Constants.R_HEADS + "anyBranch";
+    String tagRef = Constants.R_TAGS + "anyTag";
 
     PushOneCommit.Result branchPush = pushFactory.create(user.newIdent(), testRepo).to(branchRef);
     branchPush.assertOkStatus();
@@ -103,13 +83,8 @@
     assertOkStatus(tagPush, tagRef);
 
     try (Repository localRepo = repoManager.openRepository(project)) {
-      List<RefUpdateState> fetchCreated = fetchAllRefs(localRepo);
-      assertThat(fetchCreated.toString())
-          .contains(new RefUpdateState(branchRef, RefUpdate.Result.NEW).toString());
+      fetchAllRefs(TEST_TASK_ID, testRepoPath, localRepo);
       assertThat(getRef(localRepo, branchRef)).isNotNull();
-
-      assertThat(fetchCreated.toString())
-          .contains(new RefUpdateState(tagRef, RefUpdate.Result.NEW).toString());
       assertThat(getRef(localRepo, tagRef)).isNotNull();
 
       PushResult deleteBranchResult = deleteRef(testRepo, branchRef);
@@ -118,55 +93,24 @@
       PushResult deleteTagResult = deleteRef(testRepo, tagRef);
       assertOkStatus(deleteTagResult, tagRef);
 
-      List<RefUpdateState> fetchDeleted = fetchAllRefs(localRepo);
-      assertThat(fetchDeleted.toString())
-          .contains(new RefUpdateState(branchRef, RefUpdate.Result.FORCED).toString());
-      assertThat(getRef(localRepo, branchRef)).isNull();
-
-      assertThat(fetchDeleted.toString())
-          .contains(new RefUpdateState(tagRef, RefUpdate.Result.FORCED).toString());
-      assertThat(getRef(localRepo, tagRef)).isNull();
+      fetchAllRefs(TEST_TASK_ID, testRepoPath, localRepo);
+      assertThat(getRef(localRepo, branchRef)).isNotNull();
+      assertThat(getRef(localRepo, tagRef)).isNotNull();
     }
   }
 
-  private List<RefUpdateState> fetchAllRefs(Repository localRepo)
-      throws URISyntaxException, IOException {
-    Fetch fetch = fetchFactory.create(TEST_TASK_ID, new URIish(testRepoPath.toString()), localRepo);
-    return fetch.fetch(Lists.newArrayList(ALL_REFS));
-  }
-
-  private static void assertOkStatus(PushResult result, String ref) {
-    RemoteRefUpdate refUpdate = result.getRemoteUpdate(ref);
-    assertThat(refUpdate).isNotNull();
-    assertWithMessage(refUpdate.getMessage())
-        .that(refUpdate.getStatus())
-        .isEqualTo(RemoteRefUpdate.Status.OK);
-  }
-
   @SuppressWarnings("unused")
-  private static class TestModule extends FactoryModule {
+  private static class TestModule extends FetchModule<JGitFetch> {
     @Override
-    protected void configure() {
+    Class<JGitFetch> clientClass() {
+      return JGitFetch.class;
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    Config cf() {
       Config cf = new Config();
       cf.setInt("remote", "test_config", "timeout", 0);
-      cf.setBoolean("remote", "test_config", "mirror", true);
-      try {
-        RemoteConfig remoteConfig = new RemoteConfig(cf, "test_config");
-        SourceConfiguration sourceConfig = new SourceConfiguration(remoteConfig, cf);
-        bind(ReplicationConfig.class).to(ReplicationFileBasedConfig.class);
-        bind(CredentialsFactory.class)
-            .to(AutoReloadSecureCredentialsFactoryDecorator.class)
-            .in(Scopes.SINGLETON);
-
-        bind(SourceConfiguration.class).toInstance(sourceConfig);
-        install(
-            new FactoryModuleBuilder()
-                .implement(Fetch.class, JGitFetch.class)
-                .implement(Fetch.class, FetchClientImplementation.class, JGitFetch.class)
-                .build(FetchFactory.class));
-      } catch (URISyntaxException e) {
-        throw new RuntimeException(e);
-      }
+      return cf;
     }
   }
 }
diff --git a/src/test/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/replication/pull/JGitFetchWithMirrorIT.java b/src/test/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/replication/pull/JGitFetchWithMirrorIT.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2df700f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/test/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/replication/pull/JGitFetchWithMirrorIT.java
@@ -0,0 +1,100 @@
+// Copyright (C) 2023 The Android Open Source Project
+//
+// Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+// you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+// You may obtain a copy of the License at
+//
+// http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+//
+// Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+// distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+// WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+// See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+// limitations under the License.
+
+package com.googlesource.gerrit.plugins.replication.pull;
+
+import static com.google.common.truth.Truth.assertThat;
+import static com.google.gerrit.acceptance.GitUtil.deleteRef;
+import static com.google.gerrit.acceptance.GitUtil.pushHead;
+import static com.google.gerrit.acceptance.testsuite.project.TestProjectUpdate.allow;
+
+import com.google.gerrit.acceptance.PushOneCommit;
+import com.google.gerrit.acceptance.SkipProjectClone;
+import com.google.gerrit.acceptance.TestPlugin;
+import com.google.gerrit.acceptance.UseLocalDisk;
+import com.google.gerrit.acceptance.testsuite.project.ProjectOperations;
+import com.google.gerrit.entities.Permission;
+import com.google.inject.Inject;
+import com.googlesource.gerrit.plugins.replication.pull.fetch.JGitFetch;
+import org.eclipse.jgit.lib.Config;
+import org.eclipse.jgit.lib.Constants;
+import org.eclipse.jgit.lib.Repository;
+import org.eclipse.jgit.transport.PushResult;
+import org.junit.Before;
+import org.junit.Test;
+
+@SkipProjectClone
+@UseLocalDisk
+@TestPlugin(
+    name = "pull-replication",
+    sysModule = "com.googlesource.gerrit.plugins.replication.pull.JGitFetchWithMirrorIT$TestModule")
+public class JGitFetchWithMirrorIT extends FetchITBase {
+  private static final String TEST_REPLICATION_SUFFIX = "suffix1";
+  private static final String TEST_TASK_ID = "taskid";
+
+  @Inject private ProjectOperations projectOperations;
+
+  @Before
+  public void allowRefDeletion() {
+    projectOperations
+        .allProjectsForUpdate()
+        .add(allow(Permission.DELETE).ref("refs/*").group(adminGroupUuid()))
+        .update();
+  }
+
+  @Test
+  public void shouldPruneRefsWhenMirrorIsTrue() throws Exception {
+    testRepo = cloneProject(createTestProject(project + TEST_REPLICATION_SUFFIX));
+    String branchRef = Constants.R_HEADS + "anyBranch";
+    String tagRef = Constants.R_TAGS + "anyTag";
+
+    PushOneCommit.Result branchPush = pushFactory.create(user.newIdent(), testRepo).to(branchRef);
+    branchPush.assertOkStatus();
+
+    PushResult tagPush = pushHead(testRepo, tagRef, false, false);
+    assertOkStatus(tagPush, tagRef);
+
+    try (Repository localRepo = repoManager.openRepository(project)) {
+      fetchAllRefs(TEST_TASK_ID, testRepoPath, localRepo);
+      assertThat(getRef(localRepo, branchRef)).isNotNull();
+      assertThat(getRef(localRepo, tagRef)).isNotNull();
+
+      PushResult deleteBranchResult = deleteRef(testRepo, branchRef);
+      assertOkStatus(deleteBranchResult, branchRef);
+
+      PushResult deleteTagResult = deleteRef(testRepo, tagRef);
+      assertOkStatus(deleteTagResult, tagRef);
+
+      fetchAllRefs(TEST_TASK_ID, testRepoPath, localRepo);
+      assertThat(getRef(localRepo, branchRef)).isNull();
+      assertThat(getRef(localRepo, tagRef)).isNull();
+    }
+  }
+
+  @SuppressWarnings("unused")
+  private static class TestModule extends FetchModule<JGitFetch> {
+    @Override
+    Class<JGitFetch> clientClass() {
+      return JGitFetch.class;
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    Config cf() {
+      Config cf = new Config();
+      cf.setInt("remote", "test_config", "timeout", 0);
+      cf.setBoolean("remote", "test_config", "mirror", true);
+      return cf;
+    }
+  }
+}
diff --git a/src/test/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/replication/pull/PullReplicationIT.java b/src/test/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/replication/pull/PullReplicationIT.java
index 29bf7e4..5717a8b 100644
--- a/src/test/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/replication/pull/PullReplicationIT.java
+++ b/src/test/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/replication/pull/PullReplicationIT.java
@@ -309,7 +309,11 @@
         getInstance(SourcesCollection.class).getByRemoteName(TEST_REPLICATION_REMOTE).get();
 
     FetchApiClient client = getInstance(FetchApiClient.Factory.class).create(source);
-    client.initProject(projectToCreate, new URIish(source.getApis().get(0)));
+    client.initProject(
+        projectToCreate,
+        new URIish(source.getApis().get(0)),
+        System.currentTimeMillis(),
+        Collections.emptyList());
 
     waitUntil(() -> repoManager.list().contains(projectToCreate));
   }
diff --git a/src/test/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/replication/pull/ReplicationQueueTest.java b/src/test/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/replication/pull/ReplicationQueueTest.java
index 603528d..a07aa55 100644
--- a/src/test/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/replication/pull/ReplicationQueueTest.java
+++ b/src/test/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/replication/pull/ReplicationQueueTest.java
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@
 import com.google.common.collect.ImmutableList;
 import com.google.common.collect.Lists;
 import com.google.gerrit.entities.Project;
+import com.google.gerrit.entities.RefNames;
 import com.google.gerrit.extensions.api.changes.NotifyHandling;
 import com.google.gerrit.extensions.common.AccountInfo;
 import com.google.gerrit.extensions.events.ProjectDeletedListener;
@@ -147,7 +148,8 @@
         .when(fetchRestApiClient.callSendObjects(any(), anyString(), anyLong(), any(), any()))
         .thenReturn(httpResult);
     when(fetchRestApiClient.callFetch(any(), anyString(), any())).thenReturn(fetchHttpResult);
-    when(fetchRestApiClient.initProject(any(), any())).thenReturn(successfulHttpResult);
+    when(fetchRestApiClient.initProject(any(), any(), anyLong(), any()))
+        .thenReturn(successfulHttpResult);
     when(successfulHttpResult.isSuccessful()).thenReturn(true);
     when(httpResult.isSuccessful()).thenReturn(true);
     when(fetchHttpResult.isSuccessful()).thenReturn(true);
@@ -206,7 +208,7 @@
     objectUnderTest.start();
     objectUnderTest.onEvent(event);
 
-    verify(fetchRestApiClient).initProject(any(), any());
+    verify(fetchRestApiClient).initProject(any(), any(), anyLong(), any());
   }
 
   @Test
@@ -219,7 +221,22 @@
     objectUnderTest.start();
     objectUnderTest.onEvent(event);
 
-    verify(fetchRestApiClient, never()).initProject(any(), any());
+    verify(fetchRestApiClient, never()).initProject(any(), any(), anyLong(), any());
+  }
+
+  @Test
+  public void shouldNotCallInitProjectWhenProjectWithoutConfiguration() throws Exception {
+    Event event = new TestEvent("refs/changes/01/1/meta");
+    when(httpResult.isSuccessful()).thenReturn(false);
+    when(httpResult.isProjectMissing(any())).thenReturn(true);
+    when(source.isCreateMissingRepositories()).thenReturn(true);
+    when(revReader.read(any(), any(), eq(RefNames.REFS_CONFIG), anyInt()))
+        .thenReturn(Optional.empty());
+
+    objectUnderTest.start();
+    objectUnderTest.onEvent(event);
+
+    verify(fetchRestApiClient, never()).initProject(any(), any(), anyLong(), any());
   }
 
   @Test
diff --git a/src/test/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/replication/pull/client/FetchRestApiClientBase.java b/src/test/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/replication/pull/client/FetchRestApiClientBase.java
index 25aa2a7..65ccdfb 100644
--- a/src/test/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/replication/pull/client/FetchRestApiClientBase.java
+++ b/src/test/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/replication/pull/client/FetchRestApiClientBase.java
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@
 import com.google.common.base.Charsets;
 import com.google.common.collect.Lists;
 import com.google.common.io.CharStreams;
+import com.google.common.net.MediaType;
 import com.google.gerrit.entities.Project;
 import com.google.gerrit.entities.RefNames;
 import com.googlesource.gerrit.plugins.replication.CredentialsFactory;
@@ -37,6 +38,7 @@
 import java.nio.ByteBuffer;
 import java.util.Collections;
 import org.apache.http.Header;
+import org.apache.http.HttpHeaders;
 import org.apache.http.client.methods.HttpDelete;
 import org.apache.http.client.methods.HttpPost;
 import org.apache.http.client.methods.HttpPut;
@@ -94,6 +96,17 @@
           + "\",\"type\":2,\"content\":\"MTAwNjQ0IGJsb2IgYmIzODNmNTI0OWM2OGE0Y2M4YzgyYmRkMTIyOGI0YTg4ODNmZjZlOCAgICBmNzVhNjkwMDRhOTNiNGNjYzhjZTIxNWMxMjgwODYzNmMyYjc1Njc1\"},\"blobs\":[{\"sha1\":\""
           + blobObjectId
           + "\",\"type\":3,\"content\":\"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\\u003d\"}]}}";
+
+  String expectedInitProjectWithConfigPayload =
+      "{\"label\":\"Replication\",\"ref_name\":\"refs/meta/config\",\"event_created_on\":"
+          + eventCreatedOn
+          + ",\"revisions_data\":[{\"commit_object\":{\"sha1\":\""
+          + commitObjectId
+          + "\",\"type\":1,\"content\":\"dHJlZSA3NzgxNGQyMTZhNmNhYjJkZGI5ZjI4NzdmYmJkMGZlYmRjMGZhNjA4CnBhcmVudCA5ODNmZjFhM2NmNzQ3MjVhNTNhNWRlYzhkMGMwNjEyMjEyOGY1YThkCmF1dGhvciBHZXJyaXQgVXNlciAxMDAwMDAwIDwxMDAwMDAwQDY5ZWMzOGYwLTM1MGUtNGQ5Yy05NmQ0LWJjOTU2ZjJmYWFhYz4gMTYxMDU3ODY0OCArMDEwMApjb21taXR0ZXIgR2Vycml0IENvZGUgUmV2aWV3IDxyb290QG1hY3plY2gtWFBTLTE1PiAxNjEwNTc4NjQ4ICswMTAwCgpVcGRhdGUgcGF0Y2ggc2V0IDEKClBhdGNoIFNldCAxOgoKKDEgY29tbWVudCkKClBhdGNoLXNldDogMQo\\u003d\"},\"tree_object\":{\"sha1\":\""
+          + treeObjectId
+          + "\",\"type\":2,\"content\":\"MTAwNjQ0IGJsb2IgYmIzODNmNTI0OWM2OGE0Y2M4YzgyYmRkMTIyOGI0YTg4ODNmZjZlOCAgICBmNzVhNjkwMDRhOTNiNGNjYzhjZTIxNWMxMjgwODYzNmMyYjc1Njc1\"},\"blobs\":[{\"sha1\":\""
+          + blobObjectId
+          + "\",\"type\":3,\"content\":\"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\\u003d\"}]}]}";
   String commitObject =
       "tree "
           + treeObjectId
@@ -374,18 +387,26 @@
 
   @Test
   public void shouldCallInitProjectEndpoint() throws Exception {
-
-    objectUnderTest.initProject(Project.nameKey("test_repo"), new URIish(api));
+    objectUnderTest.initProject(
+        Project.nameKey("test_repo"),
+        new URIish(api),
+        eventCreatedOn,
+        Collections.singletonList(createSampleRevisionData()));
 
     verify(httpClient, times(1)).execute(httpPutCaptor.capture(), any());
-
     HttpPut httpPut = httpPutCaptor.getValue();
+    String payload =
+        CharStreams.toString(
+            new InputStreamReader(httpPut.getEntity().getContent(), Charsets.UTF_8));
     assertThat(httpPut.getURI().getHost()).isEqualTo("gerrit-host");
+    assertThat(httpPut.getHeaders(HttpHeaders.CONTENT_TYPE)[0].getValue())
+        .isEqualTo(MediaType.JSON_UTF_8.toString());
     assertThat(httpPut.getURI().getPath())
         .isEqualTo(
             String.format(
                 "%s/plugins/pull-replication/init-project/test_repo.git",
                 urlAuthenticationPrefix()));
+    assertThat(payload).isEqualTo(expectedInitProjectWithConfigPayload);
     assertAuthentication(httpPut);
   }