On Tuesday, Russia’s parliament approved a bill that could lead to the removal of the Taliban from its official list of “terrorist” organizations. Since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan following the U.S. withdrawal in 2021, Moscow has sought to improve relations with the group and has been advocating for its removal from the banned list.
The bill passed by the State Duma establishes a legal process for delisting groups designated as terrorist organizations, setting the stage for a possible future decision. The bill will now go to the Federation Council and, if approved, to President Vladimir Putin for final approval.
During a visit to Kabul last month, Russian security officials informed their Afghan counterparts that Moscow intended to remove the Taliban from the list soon. Under the new system, Russia’s Prosecutor General could request a court to delist a group if it is deemed to have stopped supporting terrorism. However, this move would not signify formal recognition of the Taliban’s government, the “Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan,” which remains unrecognized by any country.
