Russia removes the Taliban from its list of terrorist organizations

The Russian Supreme Court announced on Thursday, April 17, validate the withdrawal of the Taliban from the list of terrorist organizations in Russia, a symbolic measure aimed at strengthening relations between Moscow and Kabul, isolated on the international scene. “The decision comes into force immediately”said the judge in charge of the file, Oleg Nefedov, after a closed hearing, according to Russian press agencies.

However, this decision does not equivalent, at this stage, to a formal recognition of the Taliban government, back to power since 2021. In Kabul, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amir Khan Muttaqi, thanked Moscow and greeted a “Important development” In bilateral relations, according to a press release from his office.

“With this decision, the only obstacle remaining more political and economic cooperation has been lifted”estimated the minister, during a meeting with the Russian ambassador, Dmitry Zhirnov. He welcomed a “Historical decision”according to the press release from Afghan diplomacy.

In March, the Russian prosecutor's office asked to withdraw the Taliban from the list of designated organizations “Terrorists” In Russia and, therefore, prohibited, on which they have been since 2003, in the context of after September 11, 2001.

De facto diplomatic relations

The Taliban seized Kabul on August 15, 2021, the Afghan capital, after the collapse of the government supported by the United States, followed a few days later from the complete withdrawal of American troops. Since then, Moscow has undertaken to normalize its links with the new Afghan government, which he perceives as a potential economic partner and in the fight against terrorism.

However, this was not officially recognized by any country at this stage, in particular due to the disastrous situation of women's rights in Afghanistan. However, in addition to Russia, Pakistan, China, Iran, or most countries in Central Asia have de facto diplomatic relations with the Taliban authorities.

Moscow has repeatedly received Taliban emissaries on his soil, even before their return to power. The rapprochement between the Kremlin and Kabul seemed to accelerate following an attack, in March 2024, near Moscow: 145 people had been killed in a concert hall by four shooters of the Islamic State group in Khorassan (EI-K), the regional branch of the jihadist organization present in Afghanistan.

“Allies in the fight against terrorism”

In July 2024, Russian President Vladimir Putin said he considers the Taliban as “Allies in the fight against terrorism”. Then he signed, at the end of 2024, a law allowing the Russian authorities to withdraw the name of a group registered on the list of terrorist organizations. According to this text, the ban on an organization can now be “Temporarily suspended” by justice in case “Real evidence” that said group has ceased to promote “Terrorism”.

The head of Russian diplomacy, Sergei Lavrov, had called in October to lift the sanctions targeting Afghanistan and take the ” responsibility “ of the reconstruction of this country ravaged by decades of war. The secretary of the Russian Security Council, Sergei Choigou, went to Kabul at the end of December during a rare visit to a senior foreign official, during which he had declared that he wanted to strengthen the ” cooperation “ with Afghanistan.