Influencer Charged with Rape Granted Release from House Arrest in Romania

Romania’s controversial internet influencer, Andrew Tate, who faces charges of rape, human trafficking, and forming a criminal gang to exploit women, has won an appeal to be released from house arrest. Instead, he will be subject to judicial control measures while remaining within the country’s borders. The decision, handed down by the Bucharest Court of Appeal, stipulates that Tate is not permitted to be in close proximity with the other defendants, any witnesses, or the alleged victims and their immediate family.

His spokesperson, Mateea Petrescu, expressed optimism, stating that this outcome bodes well for future developments. In June, Andrew Tate, his brother Tristan, and two Romanian women were formally indicted in the same case. All four defendants, who were arrested near Bucharest in December, have vehemently denied the allegations against them.

Geographical restrictions have been imposed on all defendants, limiting them to Bucharest Municipality and Ilfov County, unless they receive prior approval from a judge. Should the defendants violate their judicial obligations, they may be subject to house arrest or preventive arrest once again.

Having been released from his large home near Bucharest, Andrew Tate addressed the media, confidently asserting their innocence and challenging the accusations made against them. Incarcerated since January, Tate expressed frustration at the media’s portrayal of him as a perpetrator, highlighting the stark absence of any alleged victims stepping forward during the entire duration of the case. He further emphasized the strong support he has received from individuals defending his character.

The Tate brothers, holding dual U.K. and U.S. citizenship, appealed the court’s earlier decision to keep them under house arrest on July 18. They had previously spent three months in a police detention facility before being granted house arrest in late March. Romania’s anti-organized crime agency, DIICOT, requested an extension of their house arrest measure following the filing of its criminal investigation in June.

Known for peddling conspiracy theories online and boasting 7.5 million Twitter followers, Andrew Tate has consistently refuted the existence of incriminating evidence against him. He believes there is a political conspiracy aimed at silencing him.

According to DIICOT, the defendants formed a criminal group in 2021, involved in human trafficking in Romania, the United States, and Britain. The agency alleges that seven female victims were enticed with false promises of love, transported to Romania, and subjected to sexual exploitation and physical violence at the hands of the gang. One defendant is specifically accused of raping a woman twice in March 2022. Prosecutors argue that the women were controlled through intimidation, constant surveillance, and being falsely led into debt.

Andrew Tate has previously faced bans on various social media platforms for promoting hate speech and making misogynistic remarks, including blaming women for their own sexual assault. In addition to the criminal charges, several women from Britain are pursuing civil claims against Tate, seeking damages for alleged instances of sexual violence.