In Bucharest, Romania, a court granted a request by British authorities to extradite the controversial online influencer Andrew Tate, but with the condition that the extradition will only occur after legal proceedings against him in Romania have concluded, according to his spokesperson.

The decision by the Bucharest Court of Appeal came after Andrew Tate, 37, and his brother Tristan Tate were detained on Monday evening based on arrest warrants issued by British authorities regarding allegations of sexual aggression dating back to 2012-2015. The appeals court, where the Tate brothers appeared in handcuffs on Tuesday escorted by police, also ordered their immediate release, spokesperson Mateea Petrescu confirmed.

Eugen Vidineac, Tate’s lawyer, praised the court’s decision, stating that it “provides an opportunity for the brothers to participate fully in their defense” and allows the legal process “to proceed in a transparent manner.”

Four women had reported Tate to U.K. authorities for alleged sexual violence and physical abuse, but the Crown Prosecution Service opted not to prosecute him. Subsequently, the alleged victims turned to crowdfunding to cover their legal expenses as they pursue a civil case against him.

“We handed over our evidence about the horrific acts of violence we endured and waited for action. But four years later, we were told the U.K. authorities would not prosecute him,” they stated on their campaign page. “It’s our one remaining route to hold him accountable.”

The accusations against Tristan Tate in the U.K. were not immediately clear.

Petrescu stated on Tuesday that the Tate brothers deny the charges and “express profound disappointment that such serious allegations are being resurrected without substantial new evidence.”

Tate faces separate charges in Romania, including rape, human trafficking, and forming a criminal gang to sexually exploit women. He was apprehended near Bucharest in December 2022 along with his brother Tristan and two Romanian women. Romanian prosecutors formally indicted all four in June of the following year, and they have denied the allegations.

Andrew Tate, who has amassed 8.9 million followers on the social media platform X, has frequently asserted that Romanian prosecutors lack evidence against him and alleges a political conspiracy to silence him. He has previously been banned from several prominent social media platforms for expressing misogynistic views and hate speech.

On Tuesday, a post appeared on Tate’s X account that stated, “The Matrix is afraid, but I only fear God.” Tate uses the term “Matrix” to describe what he perceives as a widespread conspiracy targeting men.

McCue Jury & Partners, the legal firm representing the four British women accusing Andrew Tate of rape and serious physical and sexual assaults, issued a statement on Tuesday indicating that they had urged British police to “immediately seek a warrant” for Tate’s detention and extradition after receiving information last week suggesting he might be planning to flee Romania.

Matthew Jury, a managing partner at the law firm, commented, “Today’s news is very welcome as it had been a significant concern to many that Tate would seek to avoid justice in Romania and abroad. We are grateful to the British authorities for taking our concerns seriously and issuing an arrest warrant. Tate is accused of serious criminal offenses against a large number of victims, and he must be held accountable.”

Jury emphasized that regardless of the outcome of the Romanian trial, Tate will also face prosecution in England. He noted that since Tate’s arrest in Romania, he has “spread a vast amount of disinformation about the criminal charges he faces in the U.K.” in prominent interviews with media figures like Tucker Carlson and Piers Morgan.

Following their arrest in Romania, the Tate brothers were detained for three months before being placed under house arrest. They were subsequently confined to the areas of Bucharest Municipality and nearby Ilfov County and are currently prohibited from leaving Romania. The legal proceedings in Romania are still in the preliminary stages, during which the defendants can challenge the evidence presented by prosecutors. No trial date has been scheduled.

In January, Tate successfully appealed against the seizure of his assets by Romanian authorities, which had been confiscated in the weeks following his arrest.

Romanian authorities had seized 15 luxury cars, 14 designer watches and cash in several currencies worth an estimated 3.6 million euros ($3.9 million).

After the extradition ruling by the Romanian court, Andrew Tate has spoken out, asserting, “My soul is not for sale.”

Andrew Tate emphasized that his soul and principles are “not for sale,” as he issued a statement following his arrest in Romania. The 37-year-old will be extradited to the UK to face allegations of sexual aggression after his Romanian trial proceedings have concluded, as ruled by the court.

Speaking outside the court on Wednesday, Tate stated, “Unfortunately, I don’t think many people in Romania understand, but in the West, in the countries that are owned by the Satanists, when you get to a certain level of fame, you either put on a dress or you go to jail, and I’m happy to make my choice – which is jail every single time.”

Source: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/andrew-tate-detained-romania-british-arrest-warrant-sexual-aggression/

https://www.independent.co.uk/tv/news/andrew-tate-house-arrest-romania-interview-b2511837.html