Russia’s Supreme Court has temporarily lifted the ban on the Taliban movement’s activities in the country, following a request from the Prosecutor General’s Office. The decision was announced during a closed hearing and takes immediate effect, TASS reported from the courtroom.
"The Supreme Court of the Russian Federation has suspended the previously imposed ban on the activities of the Taliban movement, which had been included on the federal list of terrorist organizations," Judge Oleg Nefyodov stated as he read the ruling.
This marks the first application of a new legal mechanism introduced in December 2024, which allows for the temporary suspension of bans on organizations previously designated as terrorist.
Under the law signed by President Vladimir Putin late last year, courts may lift such bans if credible evidence emerges that the group in question has ceased terrorist activities, propaganda, or any actions supporting or justifying terrorism. The motion must be initiated by the Prosecutor General or their deputy.
The Russian General Prosecutor’s Office said in a statement that the decision was based on legislative changes to the Administrative Procedure Code and the federal law "On Combating Terrorism." “These amendments make it possible to suspend the ban on an organization if it has stopped actions linked to terrorist ideology or violence against Russia’s interests,” the office noted, adding that the court found sufficient grounds to support the motion.
Once the ruling takes legal effect, a copy will be sent to the FSB within five days so the Taliban can be removed—at least temporarily—from the list of banned terrorist organizations.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: official website of the Rais RT
Based on TASS materials