ANDREW Tate and his brother Tristan have won a court battle to allow them to leave Romania.
The disgraced brothers were arrested in 2022 and charged with human trafficking, rape and forming an organised crime group to sexually exploit women.
AlamyAndrew Tate and his brother Tristan arrive at court on July 4[/caption]
AlamyAndrew and Tristan head for a snack during court proceedings on Thursday[/caption]
AlamyThe Tate brothers have always insisted they are innocence[/caption]
Tate announced the ruling on his X page
But the court ruling will now allow them to travel within the EU, according to their lawyers.
Tate’s official spokesman described the ruling as a “significant victory and a major step forward in the ongoing case”.
Andrew, 37, and Tristan, 35, were arrested in December 2022, but formally indicted in June last year.
Both brothers deny all the charges against them.
Tate announced the ruling to his fans on X (formerly Twitter) with a shirtless video.
He said: “For the first time in nearly 3 years, the judge has decided I can leave Romania.”
Showing off his supercars, Tate also protested his innocence in the one-minute and 20-second clip.
Romanian law states trafficking of adults carries a prison sentence of up to 10 years, as does rape.
Both men are alleged to have pretended to fall in love with the women before getting them to work for their business and making them perform sexual acts on webcams.
With Andrew as the face, the brothers – originally from Luton – run a warped online empire from their compound on the outskirts of Bucharest.
They have gained millions of fans by promoting an ultra-masculine lifestyle that critics say denigrates women.
Two Romanian female suspects – model Georgiana Naghel and former cop Luana Radu – were also formally charged in the case.
The two also face extradition to the UK once their court proceedings in Romania wrap up.
The controversial brothers have been accused of 10 allegations of rape and sexual assault from three alleged victims in the UK.
In Romania, Andrew and Tristan are accused of recruiting women on social media platforms and luring them to their villa on the outskirts of Bucharest.
In a statement to The Sun, 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 2 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.”
TATE ARREST TIMELINE
ANDREW and Tristan Tate were arrested in December 2022 and charged with human trafficking, rape, and forming an organised crime group to sexually exploit women.
Here is a timeline of everything that’s happened since they were nicked:
DECEMBER 29, 2022: The brothers are detained in Romania for 30 days, along with two women, on suspicion of human trafficking, rape, and forming an organised crime group.
JANUARY 3, 2023: Romanian authorities seize Andrew’s luxury car collection.
JAN 8, 2023: A cryptic tweet is posted to Andrew Tate’s account which reads: “The Matrix has attacked me. But they misunderstand, you cannot kill an idea. Hard to Kill.”
JAN 10, 2023: Andrew appears in court in Bucharest to appeal his detention but the judge rules against him.
MARCH 31, 2023: The Bucharest Court of Appeal rules against a judge’s decision to extend Andrew’s incarceration for a fourth time; Andrew is placed on house arrest.
JUNE 20, 2023: The brothers are formally charged with human trafficking, rape, and forming a criminal gang to sexually exploit women.
JULY 13, 2023: The Tates launch a $5million lawsuit against a Florida woman who they say falsely accused them of imprisoning her in Romania – which led to their arrest there on human trafficking charges.
AUGUST 4, 2023: Andrew wins an appeal to be released from house arrest in Romania as he awaits trial on charges of human trafficking.
DECEMBER 11, 2023: A judge denies the Tate brothers’ appeals to have £10million worth of assets returned to them.
JANUARY 8, 2024: The Bucharest Court of Appeal overturns the decision; the brothers are to have their assets returned to them.
MARCH 12, 2024: Both brothers are arrested in Romania over allegations of sexual aggression in the UK that date back to 2012 and 2015. They deny the allegations.
MARCH 22, 2024: The brothers lost their appeal to get back £10million worth of assets seized by cops.
APRIL 26, 2024: A Romanian court rules that Andrew and Tristan will face trail over ongoing probe into rape and human trafficking.
JULY 5, 2024: Courts rule that Andrew and Tristan can leave Romania – but must stay in the EU
