Russia’s Supreme Court to Review Taliban’s Terrorist Status on April 17

Russia’s Supreme Court is set to review a request from the Prosecutor General’s Office to remove the Taliban from its list of designated terrorist organizations, with a closed-door hearing scheduled for April 17.

If approved, the move would mark the end of the Taliban’s classification as a terrorist group in Russia, a status it has held since 2003. The request follows recent legislative changes signed by President Vladimir Putin in December, allowing authorities to reconsider an organization’s designation if it no longer promotes or supports terrorism in Russia.

The Kremlin has steadily strengthened ties with the Taliban since the group took control of Afghanistan following the U.S. withdrawal in 2021. Russian officials, including President Putin and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, have referred to the Taliban as a key player in regional stability, urging Western nations to lift sanctions on Afghanistan and support its reconstruction.

Despite international criticism over the Taliban’s strict enforcement of Islamic law and severe restrictions on women’s rights, Russia has engaged in diplomatic talks and economic cooperation with Afghanistan’s current leadership.

The Supreme Court’s decision on April 17 could have significant geopolitical implications, reshaping Russia’s official stance on the Taliban and its role in Afghanistan’s future.