Russia Close To Removing Taliban From "Terrorist" Label, Syria's HTS Could Be Next
Moscow, Russia: The Russian passed a law that would allow courts to suspend bans on groups designated as terrorist organisations by the country. The new law, passed by parliament’s lower house, the State Duma, is perceived as a way for Moscow to normalise ties with the Afghanistan’s Taliban and potentially the new leadership of Syria.
The bill outlines a legal mechanism for groups to be removed from the country’s official banned list of outlawed “terrorist” organisations by order of a court if they cease terrorist-related activity. Under the law, Russia’s Prosecutor General could file a request with a court outlining that a banned group has “ceased” its activities “in support of terrorism.” A judge could then rule to remove the “terrorist” designation on the group.
Russia listed Taliban as a terrorist group in February 2003. Syria’s new leadership Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) was labelled as terrorist organisation in 2020.
Currently, no country recognises Taliban government in Afghanistan. The group seized power in August 2021 as U.S.-led forces staged a chaotic withdrawal after 20 years of war. At the same time, Moscow has been building ties with the movement. In July this year, Russia President Vladimir Putin said that Taliban was now an ally in fighting terrorism.
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However, the expected removal of Taliban from Russia’s terrorist registry would not amount to a formal recognition of its government, or what it calls the “Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan”.
There are also calls in Moscow for the removal of Syrian group HTS, which spearheaded the toppling of President Bashar al-Assad this month, from Moscow’s list of banned terror groups.
The leader of Russia’s Muslim region of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov, on Monday said Russia needed ties to the new Syrian authorities to ensure stability and prevent a humanitarian catastrophe. Kadyrov is seen as a close Putin ally, as per media report.
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Russia has been a major ally of Syria. With the fall of Assad regime, Moscow also lost its foot in West Asia, and the country coveted military foothold in the eastern Mediterranean region, the naval base of Tartus and, further north, the Hmeimim Air Base, both with 49-year-leases received after Russia helped to save Assad’s regime in 2015, as per the report.
Russia has used these as a leverage to challenge US supremacy by projecting its military power in the eastern Mediterranean. With the fall of its major ally in the region, Russia’s military foothold in the Mediterranean is threatened. However, it appears that Moscow is not ready to retreat.
Earlier this week, Kremlin, said that Moscow was in contact with the new leadership in Syria, where it hopes to retain the use of an airfield and a naval base.
(With inputs from agencies)
