Women Activists: From Now On, Every Act of Taliban Repression Will Bear the Kremlin’s Seal of Approval

Photo: Wakil Kohsar/AFP

Following the Russian Federation’s decision to recognize the Taliban regime, the “Coordination Association of Afghan Women Activists” has issued a resolution strongly condemning the move and calling it “an explicit collaboration with a misogynistic, ethnocentric, and regressive regime.”

In its resolution, the association stressed that Russia’s decision is not merely a political act but “active participation in the systematic suppression of women’s rights in Afghanistan.”

The text of the resolution states, “Over the past two decades, the Taliban have deprived thousands of women of education, work, free life, political participation, and even breathing. Secret prisons, public lashings, arrests, and killings of women’s rights activists are only part of the Taliban’s record. With this decision, Russia has consciously aligned itself with such crimes.”

The association also stated that Moscow’s action contradicts the principles of the UN Charter, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on women’s participation in peace and security processes. They emphasized that the Taliban have no popular or electoral legitimacy and “have systematically violated the conventions on the rights of women, children, and minorities.”

Another part of the resolution reads, “From now on, Russia is a moral, political, and legal partner of the Taliban. Every act of repression by the Taliban will carry international approval from the Kremlin.”

The Coordination Association of Afghan Women Activists emphasized that “history will record this day; the day a global power granted legitimacy to a brutal and backward regime; not for the people of Afghanistan, but for its own geopolitical interests.”

This comes as the Taliban announced on Thursday (3 July) that their regime has been officially recognized by Russia. The Russian ambassador in Kabul confirmed the move, stating that the formal proposal was made by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

Russia is the first country to officially recognize the Taliban regime after their return to power in Afghanistan. Russian officials have cited “security cooperation with the Taliban” and “the group’s role in countering drug trafficking” as reasons for the decision.

This action has been welcomed by China, and regional media outlets such as The Express Tribune have reported that other countries are also assessing the possibility of recognizing the Taliban.

In response to this decision, many institutions and activists have expressed strong reactions. Among them, the “Afghanistan Diplomats Solidarity Association” has described Russia’s move as a violation of international law and a threat to peace in the region and the world.