Russia suspends ban on Taliban
Photo: Russia suspended the ban on the Taliban (wikipedia.org)
Russia’s Supreme Court has suspended the country’s ban on the activities of the Taliban movement, which had been designated a terrorist organization in 2003, according to RIA Novosti.
It was noted that the Taliban will be removed from the list of terrorist organizations.
The court approved an administrative claim filed by the Russian Prosecutor General’s Office following a closed session. The ruling is to be implemented immediately, though it may still be appealed.
In recent years, Russian authorities have actively engaged with the Taliban, which currently controls Afghanistan. Taliban delegations have been received in Moscow, despite the official ban on the group’s activities.
Russia and the Taliban
In August 2021, the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan. US President Joe Biden announced the final withdrawal of American troops. To date, no country has officially recognized the Taliban government as legitimate.
Russia designated the Taliban a terrorist organization in 2003, following a similar designation by the UN Security Council.
At the end of 2024, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a law allowing the Russian government to remove the Taliban and HTS from its list of terrorist organizations.
Russian military correspondents claimed the move would bring Russia closer to the Taliban. Meanwhile, one blogger suggested the Taliban has demonstrated a commitment to peace in Afghanistan, potentially opening new trade routes for Russia.
Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan had previously removed the Taliban from their own lists of terrorist organizations.
