UN Rapporteur: Russia’s Taliban Recognition Emboldens Rights-Abusing Regimes

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.