A spokesperson confirmed that a court in Romania’s capital has agreed to extradite Andrew Tate, the controversial online influencer, at the request of British authorities. However, the extradition will only proceed after the completion of legal proceedings against him in Romania. Tate, aged 37, and his brother Tristan Tate were detained on Monday evening based on arrest warrants issued by British authorities related to allegations of sexual aggression dating back to a case in the UK from 2012 to 2015.
The Tate brothers appeared in handcuffs before the appeals court on Tuesday, accompanied by police. However, they were promptly released following the court’s order, as confirmed by spokesperson Mateea Petrescu. Eugen Vidineac, Tate’s attorney, welcomed the court’s decision, emphasizing that it allows the brothers to actively engage in their defense and ensures a transparent legal process.
In the UK, Tate faced accusations of sexual violence and physical abuse from four women, although the Crown Prosecution Service opted not to pursue criminal charges against him. Subsequently, the alleged victims resorted to crowdfunding to finance their legal expenses for a civil case against him. They expressed disappointment at the lack of prosecution by UK authorities despite presenting evidence of the violence they endured. They highlighted their pursuit of a civil case as their last recourse to hold Tate accountable.
The specific accusations against Tristan Tate in the UK were not immediately evident. Petrescu stated that the Tate brothers deny the charges and are deeply disappointed that such serious allegations are resurfacing without significant new evidence.
In a separate legal matter in Romania, Tate faces charges of rape, human trafficking, and organizing a criminal group for the sexual exploitation of women. He, along with his brother Tristan and two Romanian women, was apprehended near Bucharest in December 2022. Last June, Romanian prosecutors officially charged all four, and they have vehemently denied the accusations.
Andrew Tate, who has amassed a significant following of 8.9 million on the social media platform X, has consistently claimed that Romanian prosecutors lack evidence against him, alleging a political conspiracy aimed at silencing him. He has faced previous bans from prominent social media platforms due to misogynistic rhetoric and hate speech.
On Tuesday, a post appeared on Tate’s X account, stating, “The Matrix is afraid, but I only fear God.” He uses the term “Matrix” to describe what he perceives as a broad conspiracy targeting men. McCue Jury & Partners, the legal representatives of the four British women accusing Andrew Tate of rape and severe physical and sexual assaults, issued a statement on Tuesday. They revealed that after receiving information last week suggesting Tate might plan to flee Romania, they urged British authorities to promptly seek a warrant for his arrest and extradition.
Matthew Jury, a managing partner at the law firm, expressed appreciation for the announcement, as many were concerned that Tate might evade justice both in Romania and abroad. He thanked the British authorities for issuing an arrest warrant, emphasizing the importance of holding Tate accountable for serious criminal offenses against numerous victims, regardless of the trial outcome in Romania.
Jury also noted that since Tate’s arrest in Romania, he has spread a considerable amount of misinformation regarding the criminal charges against him in the UK. This misinformation has been disseminated through high-profile interviews with popular media personalities such as Tucker Carlson and Piers Morgan.
Following their arrest in Romania, the Tate brothers were detained in police custody for three months before being placed under house arrest. Subsequently, they were confined to the areas of Bucharest Municipality and nearby Ilfov County. Presently, they are prohibited from leaving Romania. The legal proceedings in Romania are still at the preliminary chamber stage, during which the defendants can challenge the evidence presented by prosecutors. No trial date has been scheduled yet.