A Romanian court has reimposed a travel ban on internet influencer Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan, preventing them from leaving the country as they await trial on charges of human trafficking, rape, and forming a criminal gang to sexually exploit women. This ruling, made by the Bucharest Court of Appeal on Tuesday, overturns a previous decision from July 5 that allowed the brothers to travel within the European Union.
Andrew Tate, 37, and his brother Tristan, 36, both former kickboxers and dual British-U.S. citizens, were arrested near Bucharest in December 2022, along with two Romanian women. They were formally indicted in June 2023 on charges of forming a group to traffic women, which they have denied. The brothers’ spokesperson, Mateea Petrescu, confirmed that the court’s decision is final and that they will remain in Romania.
Eugen Vidineac, a lawyer for the Tates, stated, “The court has ruled and we respect its decision. Tristan and Andrew Tate will fully comply with the Court’s decision as well as the obligations included in the judicial control, just as they have done so far.” He added that the brothers remain committed to clearing their names and reputations in court.
The legal process has been ongoing since the brothers’ arrest, with various stages allowing the defendants to challenge the prosecutors’ evidence. On April 26, the Bucharest Tribunal ruled that the case against the Tates and their co-defendants met legal criteria, allowing the trial to proceed, though no start date has been set.
Initially held in police detention for three months, the Tates were later moved to house arrest and eventually restricted to the Bucharest municipality and the surrounding Ilfov county before being confined to all of Romania.
Andrew Tate, who has 9.7 million followers on the social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter), has repeatedly claimed that the charges against him are baseless and part of a political conspiracy to silence him. Known for his controversial views, Tate has previously been banned from multiple social media platforms for misogynistic comments and hate speech. This new development of Andrew Tate’s travel restrictions further complicates his ability to manage his online presence and influence. The reimposition of the Andrew Tate travel ban underscores the gravity of the charges and the ongoing scrutiny he faces as the case proceeds through the Romanian legal system.
