Russian lawmakers advance a bill removing the terrorist designation for the Taliban

MOSCOW (AP) — The lower house of Russia’s parliament has given initial approval to a long-discussed bill that would clear the way for Moscow to remove the Taliban’s designation as a terrorist group. Under the bill passed by the State Duma in the first of three required readings Tuesday, the official designation of an organization as terrorist could be temporarily suspended by a court. The legislation needs to also be approved by the upper house and signed by President Vladimir Putin to become law. The Taliban were put on the Russian list of terrorist organizations in 2003, and any contact with such groups is punishable under Russian law. At the same time, Taliban delegations attended forums hosted by Moscow.