A Romanian court has approved the UK’s request to extradite controversial influencer Andrew Tate today pending an investigation into allegations of sexual aggression.
Tate, 37, and brother Tristan, 35, had been detained last night on the allegations dating back to 2012-15 – which the former’s PR team declared they “categorically” denied.
But the court said it would postpone Tate’s extradition until after Romanian trial proceedings had concluded.
It also ruled the pair should be immediately released from police custody, after having been detained for 24 hours while the court was deciding on making a ruling on UK authorities’ arrest warrant.
Andrew and Tristan Tate were escorted by police to the Bucharest Court of Appeal
Reuters
Eugen Vidineac, the brothers’ legal counsel, said: “We appreciate the Bucharest Court of Appeal's decision to postpone the extradition of Andrew and Tristan Tate.
“This ruling provides an opportunity for the brothers to participate fully in their defence and for the legal process to proceed in a transparent manner.”
Speaking to reporters outside the court today, Tate said: “I want to give absolute credit to Romanian justice for making the correct decision today.
“I don't think many people in Romania understand, but in the West – in the countries that are owned by the ‘satanists’ – if you get to a certain level of fame, you either put on a dress or you go to jail.
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Tate had been released from house arrest last August
Reuters“I'm happy to make my choice, which is jail every single time – my soul is not for sale, neither are my principles.
“We are innocent men – very innocent men – and in time, everybody’s going to see that, and we’re very excited to finish this judicial process and clear our names.”
Tate said: “I had been asking Romanian courts to go to the UK myself – I’d asked five times and been declined, so now I get to go home.”
One reporter asked if he would be in jail again “at the end of the process”, to which Tate replied: “We’ll see.”
Andrew and Tristan Tate had been detained in Romania in June
ReutersThe brothers were indicted in the country alongside two Romanian women last June for alleged human trafficking, rape and the formation of a criminal gang to sexually exploit women.
It was alleged that the Tate brothers recruited women from social media platforms and encouraged them to travel to their villa in Bucharest.
Both men had been accused of pretending to fall in love with the women before coercing them to work for their business and perform sexual acts on camera.
The Tates strongly deny the allegations made against them, with Andrew claiming he is a victim of “The Matrix”.
The case has since been stuck in the Bucharest court’s preliminary chamber, which has yet to decide whether the trial can start amid severe case backlogs in Romanian courts.
The Tates had been held in police custody pending the criminal investigation between December 2022 and April 2023 – and had been placed under house arrest until August last year – to prevent them leaving Romania or tampering with evidence.
Since last summer, and the end of their house arrest, the duo have been under ‘judicial control’ – a lighter measure which requires regular police check-ins, but still keeps them in the country.
Andrew Tate rose to prominence as an internet personality through promoting a hyper-masculine lifestyle, and has received widespread criticism for his role in shaping young men’s views.
Political commentator Alex Armstrong said Tate was “manipulating” young men and “telling them the reason why they feel detached is the mainstream”.
While GB News’ Eamonn Holmes said the influencer does not respect women, saying Tate sought to position himself as “dominant”.