The General Prosecutor’s Office of the Russian Federation has submitted a request to the Supreme Court to remove the Taliban from the list of terrorist organizations. According to Interfax, the application was filed on Monday and a closed-door court session is scheduled for April 17. Currently, the Taliban is listed as a terrorist organization in Russia.
In December 2024, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a law allowing for the removal of the Taliban from the list, provided the movement ceases its propaganda, justification and support of terrorism. The law also applies to the Syrian terrorist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham.
Earlier in 2025, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov emphasized the ongoing work on the Taliban’s status. He stated that the movement should be removed from the list, as it exercises real power in Afghanistan. The Foreign Ministry has repeatedly confirmed the need to build relations with the new Afghan leadership.
Russia had designated the Taliban a terrorist organization in 2003. Following the US withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan in August 2021, the Taliban took power in the country.