Russia May Lift Terrorist Bans for Taliban

The Russian parliament has passed a law enabling courts to remove groups from its list of designated terrorist organizations, potentially allowing for closer ties with the Afghan Taliban and possibly the new leadership in Syria. This legislative move, which requires approval from the upper-house Federation Council and President Putin, establishes a process where the Prosecutor General can request a court to delist a group if it has ceased terrorist activities. While this could lead to the Taliban's removal from Russia's terrorist list, it does not equate to formal recognition of their government, a step no country has yet taken. Moscow has been developing relations with the Taliban since their 2021 takeover of Afghanistan, viewing them as allies against terrorism. The law could also open avenues for Russia to engage with Syrian group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, following calls from Chechnya's leader Ramzan Kadyrov to delist them. This development comes amidst broader Russian efforts to maintain military footholds and diplomatic influence in the Middle East and Central Asia.