Russian Supreme Court ruling on Taliban opens up opportunities for developing cooperation with Afghanistan - Russian Deputy PM Overchuk

MOSCOW. April 17 (Interfax) - The Russian Supreme Court's decision to suspend the ban on activities of the Taliban movement in Russia opens up an opportunity for developing trade and economic ties, promoting Russian exports, and capitalizing on Afghanistan's transport and logistical potential, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk said.

"The Supreme Court's judgment opens up an opportunity for developing trade and economic ties, promoting our exports, as well as utilizing that country's transport and logistical potential and bringing Pakistan's and India's markets closer to us," Overchuk told journalists on Thursday.

"The government is tentatively exploring a number of project proposals aimed at developing Afghanistan's economy and strengthening ties between our countries," he said.

Earlier on Thursday, the Russian Supreme Court ruled to suspend the ban on the Taliban's activities in Russia.

"The ban on activity of the Taliban movement, included in the unified federal list of organizations declared terrorist in accordance with legislation of the Russian Federation, is now suspended," Judge Oleg Nefyodov said.

"The resolution suspending the ban on the Taliban Movement activity in Russia takes immediate effect," Nefyodov said.

Russian Prosecutor General Igor Krasnov filed the motion with the Supreme Court.

"Amendments to the Russian Code of Administrative Offenses and the Federal Law on Countering Terrorism, endorsed in December last year, serve as the legal basis for the motion," the Prosecutor General's Office said.