Following Russia’s recent suspension of the Taliban’s inclusion on its list of terrorist organisations, the United Nations has maintained that the group’s status—determined by its member states—remains unchanged.
Stéphane Dujarric, the UN Secretary-General’s spokesperson, clarified that the decision was an independent measure taken solely by the Russian Federation.
In related developments, the UN Security Council extended the mandate of its sanctions monitoring team against the Taliban for a further 14 months, reinforcing the international community’s commitment to its existing sanctions regime.
The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs also emphasised that, notwithstanding the suspension, Moscow remains fully bound by the UN Security Council sanctions targeting individuals associated with the Taliban. According to an official statement issued on Thursday, the decision by the Russian Supreme Court—which approved the suspension following a request by the Prosecutor General’s Office and was declared immediately effective by Judge Oleg Nefedov—does not alter Russia’s international obligations under the UN sanctions regime.
The announcement has been met with a positive reaction from the Taliban. Zabiullah Mujahid, a spokesperson for the group, welcomed the decision, stating that President Vladimir Putin is pursuing the correct policy regarding the group. Mujahid expressed hope that the suspension would facilitate an expansion of both economic and diplomatic relations between Russia and the Taliban.
