July 08, 2025

Welcome to Moscow, Taliban!


Welcome to Moscow, Taliban!
The Taliban's new flag for Afghanistan, flying in Moscow. TASS, Telegram.

On July 3, Russia became the first country in the world to recognize the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, legitimizing the Taliban, its former enemy. Afghanistan's former black, red, and green flag in its Moscow embassy was replaced with the militant group's banner.

The Russian ambassador in Kabul, Dmitry Zhirnov, said Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov suggested to President Vladimir Putin that Russia recognize the Taliban's sovereignty of Afghanistan. Zhirnov said the decision stems from Moscow's "sincere desire to establish a full-fledged partnership" with Kabul.

Russia has had a hot-and-cold relationship with the Taliban. The militant group emerged from the Mujahideen movement, which fought against Moscow's invasion during the Soviet-Afghan war (1979-1989). In 2003, Russia recognized the Taliban as a terrorist organization. In 2021, the extremist political and religious organization seized control of all of Afghanistan after the withdrawal of American troops. These events apparently convinced the Kremlin to soften its stance on the group.

Yet Russia actually began to actively cooperate with the Taliban as soon as they came to power. Representatives of the movement are frequently spotted in Moscow visiting government officials. In December 2024, the Duma passed a law allowing the Taliban to no longer be considered a terrorist organization.

In March 2025, the Prosecutor General's office asked the Supreme Court to suspend Russia's ban on the group's activities. By April, the ban was suspended.

The Taliban, meanwhile, has been criticized for suffocating a free press and implementing gender apartheid in Afghanistan.

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