Russia becomes the 1st country to recognise Taliban government

Russia becomes the first country to recognise the Taliban government. This comes four years after the capital Kabul fell to the Taliban regime. On Thursday (July 3), the Ambassador of the Russian Federation, Dmitry Zhirnov, called on IEA-Foreign Minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi. During their meeting, he conveyed that the government officially recognises the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.

In a statement, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, “We believe that the act of official recognition of the government of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan will give impetus to the development of productive bilateral cooperation between our countries in various fields."

This decision comes amid the Taliban's latest crackdown on free speech. The new policy says Afghan news outlets need to run political pieces through the Political Programme Oversight Committee. It says, “Analysis must be approved by the official oversight committee before airing or publication.”

The guidelines mention, “Recommendations or critiques directed at officials must be respectful, within legal frameworks, and free from defamation or distortion. Analysis must be evidence-based and not rely on unofficial sources."

Ever since the Taliban took over in August 2021, the country has been implementing new laws that have been attacking human rights. Women's rights have been heavily targeted, be it education or even freedom of speech, among others.