KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – Richard Bennett, the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Afghanistan, has sharply criticized Russia’s decision to recognize Taliban rule, warning it sets a “dangerous precedent” and emboldens regimes that violate human rights.
In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Bennett said he was “disappointed” by the move, stressing that normalization of ties with the Taliban should not happen without “verified and sustained” improvements in human rights, particularly for women and girls.
“Disappointed by Russia’s recognition that sets a dangerous precedent, emboldening regimes in Afghanistan and beyond that violate human rights with impunity,” he wrote.
Russia announced on Thursday that it had officially recognized the Taliban government in Afghanistan, raising the group’s flag over the Afghan embassy in Moscow and becoming the first country to do so.
The decision comes as the Taliban faces growing accusations of human rights abuses, including gender-based crimes. The International Criminal Court (ICC) has requested arrest warrants for two senior Taliban leaders, including the group’s reclusive supreme leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada, on charges of gender persecution.
Afghan activists, politicians, and women’s rights advocates have also condemned the move. They say Russia’s recognition legitimizes the Taliban’s oppressive rule, fuels extremism, and violates international human rights norms.
The Taliban and China welcomed Russia’s decision. Pakistan, however, reacted cautiously, calling it a bilateral matter and saying it is not in a hurry to follow suit.
