Taliban no longer designated as terrorist organization in Russia

The Russian Supreme Court has removed the Afghan Taliban movement's designation as a terrorist organization and suspended the ban on their activities within Russia.

The decision was reached on April 17 and takes effect immediately, Caliber.Az reports citing Russian media.

The session was held behind closed doors and presided over by Judge Oleg Nefyodov. His decision marks the first application of a legal provision that came into force in December 2024, which allows for the temporary suspension of bans on organizations listed as terrorist.

The Taliban movement has taken control virtually over the whole territory of Afghanistan and are in control of the government and administrative branches since their return to power in 2021. They have maintained relations with Russia and have been hosted by the Kremlin several times, including in July 2021 when the Taliban advanced across Afghanistan, taking over control from the former government forces before they eventually reached Kabul in August 2021.

US-backed then-President Hamid Karzai fled the country with US and other Western forces soon after withdrawing from Afghanistan.

By Nazrin Sadigova