Citizens and rights advocates across Afghanistan have condemned Russia’s recent decision to recognize the Taliban rule, calling it a betrayal of the Afghan people and a blatant disregard for human rights violations committed under Taliban rule.
Many Afghans say the Taliban lack both public and legal legitimacy and argue that formal recognition ignores the will of the population, particularly women and civil society actors who have been systematically excluded from political and public life since the group returned to power in August 2021.
“This is a betrayal of our rights,” said a Kabul resident. “Russia should have sanctioned the Taliban — not endorsed them. They do not represent the Afghan people.”
Another resident added: “History will remember this. The Taliban are not legitimate. Russia’s decision is a grave injustice, especially to Afghan women.”
Women-led protest movements and civil society organizations, including diaspora groups in Pakistan, staged demonstrations denouncing Moscow’s move. Protesters chanted slogans such as, “Taliban are terrorists, Russia supports terror,” and accused Russia of legitimizing a regime that continues to suppress dissent and marginalize women.
Nearly 90 civil society organizations and protest movements jointly issued a statement denouncing the move as a violation of global commitments, including human rights conventions and UN resolutions. “The Taliban are not a legitimate representative of the Afghan people,” the statement read. “Recognizing them further emboldens repression and fuels violence.”
Political groups — including Jamiat-e-Islami, Hezb-e-Wahdat, and Junbish-e-Milli — along with the National Salvation Council for Afghanistan, have also expressed concern, warning that Russia’s decision could destabilize the region and undermine long-term peace efforts.
Masoom Stanekzai, who led the previous government’s peace negotiations with the Taliban, warned that Moscow’s recognition may deepen geopolitical rivalries and embolden authoritarian movements. “Such decisions will neither end terrorism nor ease the humanitarian crisis,” he said. “In the absence of domestic legitimacy, they only increase the risk of geopolitical escalation.”
For nearly four years, no country had formally recognized the Taliban government, citing widespread human rights abuses, gender apartheid, and the exclusion of ethnic and political minorities. Russia’s decision now places it at odds with UN Security Council Resolution 2721, which makes normalization contingent upon the Taliban’s compliance with international obligations.
Rights advocates say Moscow’s move will likely embolden the Taliban to further suppress dissent while eroding the already fragile global consensus around the protection of fundamental freedoms in Afghanistan.
