MOSCOW, April 17. /TASS/. The Russian Supreme Court's decision to suspend the ban on the Taliban movement does not alter Moscow's international obligations to comply with the UN Security Council sanction regime, the Russian Foreign Ministry has stated.
"The adoption by the Supreme Court of a decision to suspend the terrorist status of the Taliban movement does not change Russia’s international obligations to adhere to the UN Security Council sanctions regime against individuals and legal entities associated with the Taliban, as well as other groups and enterprises," the ministry explained.
The Foreign Ministry emphasized that removing the terrorist status from the Taliban paves the way for the establishment of a comprehensive partnership with Kabul in the interests of the Russian and Afghan peoples. "Moscow intends to focus on strengthening trade, business, and investment ties with Kabul. It is evident that Afghanistan, with its unique geostrategic position, has the potential to become a key player in the realization of major energy and infrastructure projects," the Foreign Ministry noted.
It further added that Russia aims to develop mutually beneficial relations with Afghanistan across all sectors, including the fight against drugs and terrorism. "The Russian government appreciates the military and security operations conducted by Afghan authorities on their territory against the Islamic State’s Afghan branch - Wilayat Khorasan (a branch of the terrorist organization Islamic State, banned in Russia), which propagates the ultra-radical ideology of ‘global jihad’," the Foreign Ministry stated.
Taliban’s status in Russia
Earlier, Russia’s Supreme Court upheld an administrative request from the Prosecutor-General for suspending the ban on the Taliban movement within Russia. The decision took effect immediately.
The hearing was held behind closed doors. This decision marks the first under the legal norm that came into force in December 2024, allowing for the temporary suspension of bans on organizations listed as terrorist entities.
At the end of December last year, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a law establishing the possibility of temporarily suspending the ban on activities of organizations included in the unified list of terrorist groups.