Andrew Tate has been banned from leaving Romania after a court of appeal overturned a ruling that allowed him to travel within the EU.
The Court of Appeals in Bucharest said on Tuesday it has overturned a previous ruling which allowed the controversial internet personality free movement within the European Union while awaiting trial on charges of human trafficking.
Pending the start of the trial, they are banned from leaving Romania.
It comes after Tate, 37, and his brother Tristan, 35, two weeks ago celebrated being given permission to leave the country for the first time in two years.
The former kickboxer took to X, formerly Twitter, on July 5 announcing the news and declared ‘I AM FREE… THE SHAM CASE IS FALLING APART’.
Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan have been banned from leaving Romania after a court of appeal overturned a previous ruling which allowed them to travel within the EU. Pictured: Andrew Tate, left, and his brother Tristan wait inside at the Court of Appeals in Bucharest, Romania, Tuesday, July 16, 2024
Tate strikes a pose at the Court of Appeals in Bucharest before it overturned a July 5 ruling allowing him and his brother to leave Romanian territory providing he remains within the European Union, as he awaits trial on charges of human trafficking, rape and forming a criminal gang to sexually exploit women
Andrew Tate grimaces upon arriving at the court
Tate and his brother were charged in mid-2023 with rape, human trafficking and forming a criminal gang to sexually exploit women, which they deny.
Romanian prosecutors formally indicted Tate in June along with Tristan and two Romanian women in the same case.
All four were arrested in late December 2022 near Bucharest and have all denied the allegations made against them.
Two weeks ago, when the brothers received initial news that they were able to leave Romania, a spokesperson for the pair said: ‘The Romanian courts have ruled in favour of Andrew and Tristan Tate, lifting restrictions on their travel within the European Union,’ adding: ‘This represents a significant victory and a major step forward in the ongoing case.’
‘It reflects the significant progress the legal team have made in challenging the allegations brought against them.
Andrew and Tristan’s lawyer, Eugene Vidineac said: ‘We embrace and applaud the decision of the court today, I consider it a reflection of the exemplary behaviour and assistance of my clients.
‘Andrew and Tristan are still determined to clear their name and reputation; however, they are grateful to the courts for placing this trust in them.
‘For the brothers, who have faced limitations on their movement for nearly two years, this ruling is a welcome relief.
‘It allows them to resume their lives with greater freedom and peace of mind.
‘They are now able to travel freely throughout the EU to pursue professional opportunities without restriction.’
This ‘relief’ was short-lived however, as the ruling was today overturned.
Just two weeks ago, the brothers celebrated as they were given the news they were allowed to leave Romania and had free movement within the European Union
Tate took to X on July 5 to share a message in celebration of being given the right to leave Romania for the first time in two years. This celebration was, however, short-lived
Pictured: A police officer escorts Andrew Tate, centre, handcuffed, from the Court of Appeal in Bucharest, Romania, Tuesday, March 12, 2024
In Tate’s bizarre video posted on July 5, he paced topless around parked supercars and said: ‘For the first time in nearly three years, the judge has decided I can leave Romania.’
He also referred to the charges as a ‘sham case’ before referencing a platform that says it teaches the skill of money-making and protesting his innocence.
Tate and Tristan were initially arrested in December 2022 along with two Romanian women – model Georgiana Naghel and former cop Luana Radu – but were formerly indicted in June last year.
The two female suspects – dubbed ‘Tate’s Angels’ – also face extradition to the UK once their court proceedings in Romania come to an end.
The brothers have been accused of 10 allegations of rape and sexual assault from three alleged victims in the UK.
The pair faced complaints from victims who claimed they were drugged and subjected to sexual acts between 2012 and 2015.
Romanian law states the trafficking of adults carries a lengthy prison sentence of up to a decade, as does rape.
The Tate brothers were held in police custody during the criminal investigation from late December 2022 until April 2023, to prevent them from fleeing the country or tampering with evidence.
They were then under house arrest until August, when courts placed them under judicial control, a lighter preventative measure that enables them to move around freely but not leave the country.
Romanian prosecutors have said the Tate brothers recruited their victims by seducing them via social media and falsely claiming to want a relationship or marriage – ultimately pretending to fall in love with them before getting them to work for their business after luring them to their villa on the outskirts of Bucharest.
The victims were then taken to properties outside the capital Bucharest, and through physical violence and mental intimidation were sexually exploited by being forced to produce pornographic content for social media sites that generated large financial gain, prosecutors said.
Tate, who has amassed 9.7 million followers on X has repeatedly claimed that prosecutors in Romania have no evidence against him and that there is a political conspiracy to silence him.
This is a breaking news story. More to follow