Russian Parliament passes law allowing suspension of terrorist group bans, paving way for relations with Taliban and Syria’s HTS

Russia moves to ‘normalize’ Taliban ties with new law easing terror bans

The Russian parliament has passed a law that enables courts to suspend bans on groups previously designated as terrorist organizations by Moscow. This legislation, passed by the lower house, the State Duma, could open the door for normalizing relations with the Afghan Taliban and potentially with Syria‘s new leadership.

Under the new law, groups can be removed from Russia’s banned terrorist list by court order if they cease terrorist-related activities. The Prosecutor General’s office could request a court to remove a group from the list, provided it can show that the group has stopped supporting terrorism.

The Taliban, which was added to Russia’s banned list in 2003, could be among the first groups to benefit from this new legal mechanism. Russia has been cultivating ties with the Taliban since its takeover of Afghanistan in August 2021, after the US withdrawal. However, even if the Taliban is removed from Russia’s terrorist list, it does not mean Russia will formally recognize the “Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan” government.

Similarly, there are calls in Russia to remove Syria’s Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) from the terrorist list, particularly after HTS played a key role in the recent overthrow of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Ramzan Kadyrov, the leader of Chechnya and a close ally of President Vladimir Putin, has argued that stronger ties with Syria’s new authorities are crucial for stability and preventing a humanitarian crisis.

Russia’s growing interest in Syria and Afghanistan stems from its strategic military positions in the Middle East, which it fears could be jeopardized by regime changes. The Kremlin is working to maintain its military presence, including airfields and naval bases, in Syria despite the uncertain future of Assad’s regime.

Moscow’s policies in both countries reflect its broader regional interests, seeking to challenge US influence and maintain its foothold in the Mediterranean and Central Asia. However, ongoing instability, particularly the actions of groups like the Taliban and HTS, continues to pose challenges to Russia’s geopolitical goals.

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