KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – The Russian lower house of Parliament has reportedly voted in favor of legislation that would make it possible to remove the Taliban from the country’s list of designated terrorist organizations.
As reported by Reuters, Russia’s State Duma, the lower legislative chamber, passed the bill on its first reading on Tuesday, December 10. The bill still requires approval in two more readings in the Duma, the Upper House, and the Russian president’s signature to become law.
The decision was welcomed by the Taliban, with its Ministry of Foreign Affairs calling it a “great development” and stating that it removes the obstacles to enhancing relations between Afghanistan and Russia.
The Russian Federation designated the Taliban a terrorist organization in 2003 after the group supported Chechnya’s independence bid and attempted to sell 500 heavy weapons to Chechen rebels through the Saudi charity al-Haramain.
Following the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan in 2021, despite Russian law prohibiting contact with designated terrorist groups, Russia maintained and expanded its diplomatic relations with the regime. This included transferring the Afghan embassy in Moscow to the Taliban and keeping its embassy operational in Kabul.
In a step towards further normalizing relations with the Taliban, the Russian Foreign and Justice Ministries recommended in April removing the group from its list of terrorist organizations. This recommendation was later endorsed by other Russian government agencies and is now awaiting final approval from parliament and the president.
At the same time, like many in the region and beyond, Moscow is concerned about the potential terrorist threats emanating from Afghanistan and the Taliban’s ties to terrorist groups. These concerns were intensified by the recent deadly terrorist attack on Russian soil by ISKP, an ISIS-affiliated based in Afghanistan, which resulted in the deaths of over 130 people.
In a similar move, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan removed the Taliban from their lists of designated terrorist organizations earlier this year. Both countries had designated the Taliban as a terrorist group following the 9/11 attacks in the U.S. due to the group’s support of the attack’s perpetrator, Al-Qaeda, and its leader, Osama bin Laden.
However, Russia’s decision to potentially delist the Taliban has faced widespread criticism from Afghan activists, groups opposing the Taliban, and countries like the U.S., who argue that the move encourages other terrorist and extremist groups around the world.
During a press conference, when asked about Russia’s decision, John Kirby, the U.S. National Security Council spokesperson, responded that it sends a “horrible message” to other countries, given the Taliban’s failure to meet its commitments to the international community, including upholding women’s rights.
