MOSCOW — Russia’s Supreme Court on Thursday agreed to suspend the Taliban’s designation as a banned organization in Russia, following a formal request from the Prosecutor General’s Office.
Although the Taliban remains officially designated as a terrorist organization in Russia, the court’s ruling effectively freezes that classification, opening the door to broader political engagement. The Taliban, however, continues to be subject to United Nations sanctions.
According to Russian media reports, a representative of the Taliban attended the closed-door court session, during which the court reviewed the prosecutor’s petition seeking to suspend the ban.
“The suspension follows an administrative lawsuit filed by the Prosecutor General’s Office of the Russian Federation,” Supreme Court Judge Oleg Nefyodov said while reading the ruling, according to local media.
The session was held behind closed doors, and Russian authorities have not yet publicly commented on the potential political implications of the move.
In recent years, Moscow has sought to expand ties with the Taliban, hosting delegations from the group and holding talks in an effort to strengthen its influence in Afghanistan.
The Supreme Court’s decision marks another step in Russia’s gradual shift toward recognizing the Taliban’s de facto control of Afghanistan, even as the group remains isolated internationally.
