Russia removes Taliban's designation as 'terrorist organisation'
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Moscow: In a curious development, the Russian Supreme Court removed the Taliban's designation as a "terrorist organisation". The move is seen as a symbolic gesture aimed at building friendly relations with Afghanistan's militant rulers, Agence France-Press reported.
It was in August 2021 that the armed group took power in Afghanistan. The US withdrew its troops from the conflict-ridden country.
According to AFP, the Russian administration called the US withdrawal a failure and initiated steps to normalise relations with the Taliban authorities since the fall of Kabul. Russia sees the Taliban as a potential economic partner and ally in fighting terrorism.
"The previously established ban on the activities of the Taliban -- included on the unified federal list of organisations recognised as terrorist -- has been suspended," Supreme Court Judge Oleg Nefedov said in a ruling, according to the TASS state news agency.
TASS news agency quoted Russian Judge Oleg Nefedov, "The previously established ban on the activities of the Taliban -- included on the unified federal list of organisations recognised as terrorist -- has been suspended."
Nefdov added, "The decision enters into legal force immediately."
AFP reports that Russia's Prosecutor General requested the court to remove the Taliban's "terrorist" designation last month. This was after the Taliban's top officials made multiple trips to Russia.
In 2022 and 2024, a Taliban delegation attended Russia's flagship economic forum in Saint Petersburg. In October last year, the Taliban's top diplomat met Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Moscow. However, the decision to suspend the label does not amount to formal recognition for the Taliban authorities, AFP added.