The Supreme Court of the Russian Federation has lifted the ban on the activities of the Taliban movement, which was recognized as a terrorist organization more than 20 years ago.
The move was a diplomatic victory for the Taliban, which was listed as a terrorist organization by Russia in 2003, making any contact with them a criminal offense under Russian law.
At the same time, Taliban delegations have participated in various forums hosted by Russia, as Moscow has sought to establish itself as a regional power broker.
The court's decision, made at the request of the Prosecutor General's Office, follows the adoption last year of a law that allows the suspension of an organization's official designation as terrorist through the courts.
The former Soviet Union waged a decade-long war in Afghanistan, ending with Moscow's withdrawal in 1989.
Russian authorities have recently emphasized the need to cooperate with the Taliban to help stabilize the situation in Afghanistan.
In recent years, countries such as Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan have removed the Taliban from their lists of terrorist organizations.
The Taliban came to power in Afghanistan in August 2021 as US and NATO troops were completing their withdrawal from the country after two decades of war.
The Taliban initially promised a more moderate rule than their first rule from 1996 to 2001, but soon after the coup in 2021 they began to impose restrictions on the rights of women and girls.
Sourse: breakingnews.ie
