Russia Advances Legal Bid to Lift Taliban Terrorist Designation

The Supreme Court will consider the Prosecutor General's request to delist the Taliban in a closed-door hearing on April 17, signaling a strategic shift in Russia's counterterrorism policy.

• The Russian Prosecutor General's Office has formally requested the Supreme Court to lift the Taliban's designation as a terrorist organization, with a hearing set for April 17, 2025.
• This legal move follows a December 2024 law enabling temporary suspension of bans on terrorist groups, aimed at facilitating pragmatic engagements.
• President Vladimir Putin has described the Taliban as a 'trusted ally' in combating the Islamic State of Khorasan (IS-K), particularly after IS-K's deadly 2024 attack in Moscow.
• The delisting effort reflects Russia's evolving relationship with the Taliban since their 2021 takeover of Afghanistan, as Moscow seeks regional stability and counterterrorism cooperation.
• While the expected decision will not constitute formal recognition of the Taliban government, it underscores Russia's geopolitical recalibration amid its isolation from the West.

4 Articles

POLITICO Deutsche Welle New York Post