Russia becomes first country to officially recognize Taliban government in Afghanistan

07/07/2025 / By Laura Harris

Russia has formally recognized the Taliban-led government by accepting the credentials of Afghan Ambassador Ghulam Hassan, making it the first country to do so since the group seized power in 2021.
The move follows Russia’s Supreme Court decision in April to lift the Taliban’s designation as a terrorist organization after more than 20 years, enabling official diplomatic and economic engagement.
Moscow has steadily strengthened relations with the Taliban, hosting delegations at major forums and holding high-level talks on trade and regional security.
Russia views the Taliban as a counterterrorism partner against ISKP (Islamic State Khorasan Province) and sees Afghanistan as a key transit point for energy exports to Southeast Asia.
Afghan officials praised Russia’s recognition as a “courageous” and precedent-setting move, hoping it will encourage other nations to follow suit.

Russia has officially accepted the credentials of a new Afghan ambassador representing the Taliban-led government, becoming the first nation in the world to formally recognize the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan since the group seized power in 2021.

The Taliban returned to power in August 2021 following a rapid military campaign that coincided with the withdrawal of U.S. troops. Despite assuming control, the group has struggled to gain international legitimacy, with countries citing concerns over human rights, especially those of women and girls, and the group’s links to global terrorism.

Moscow, however, has gradually deepened its ties with the Taliban regime. Russian officials have hosted Taliban delegations at high-profile forums, including the Saint Petersburg International Economic Forum in both 2022 and 2024. In October last year, the Taliban’s top diplomat met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Moscow to discuss economic cooperation and regional security.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko confirmed the recognition on Thursday, July 3, as he accepted the credentials of Afghanistan’s newly appointed ambassador to Moscow, Ghulam Hassan. Rudenko called it a significant gesture to bolster bilateral ties. (Related: Terrorist financiers: UN, World Bank quietly funding Taliban-controlled Afghanistan.)

Russia’s Supreme Court lifts terrorist designation of Taliban

The recognition follows the suspension of Russia’s Supreme Court of its decades-long designation of the Taliban as a terrorist organization in April, clearing the way for expanded political and economic engagement with Afghanistan’s ruling authorities.

The ruling, delivered by Judge Oleg Nefedov and reported by the state-run Tass news agency, was made at the request of Russia’s prosecutor general and takes effect immediately.

The Taliban had been on Russia’s list of banned terrorist groups for over 20 years, a designation that stemmed from their role in the Afghan Civil War and concerns over extremism. However, over the past several years, Moscow has adopted a more pragmatic approach, focusing on shared security concerns and regional stability.

Among the most pressing mutual concerns is the threat posed by the Islamic State’s regional affiliate, known as ISKP (Islamic State Khorasan Province). In recent remarks, Russian President Vladimir Putin called the Taliban an “ally” in counterterrorism efforts, signaling a dramatic departure from earlier Russian rhetoric.

“Moscow will continue its course on developing political, trade and economic ties with Kabul,” Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov reaffirmed in a statement last October 2024.

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Watch this Jan. 10 episode of “Redacted News” as host Clayton Morris speaks with Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN) about how the Biden administration helped fund the Taliban.

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