- Written by Thomas Mackintosh
- BBC news
WATCH: Andrew Tate's tough exchange with BBC's Nick Beeke after extradition ruling
A Romanian court has ruled that controversial influencer Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan can be extradited to the UK.
Andrew Tate, 37, and Tristan, 35, were detained in Bucharest on Monday after Bedfordshire Police said they had obtained warrants for their arrest.
The brothers can only be extradited after a separate trial on human trafficking charges in Romania concludes, the judge ruled.
They were released from custody.
Speaking outside court, Andrew Tate said: “We are very innocent people and everyone will soon know that. I'm excited.''
“Everything is rubbish,” he later told the BBC outside his home on the outskirts of Bucharest.
The brothers “categorically deny all charges” and will remain under judicial control in Romania, where they will be prohibited from traveling abroad.
image source, Getty Images
The brothers were detained and appeared in court in Bucharest on Tuesday after arrest warrants were issued by British authorities.
Before their extradition was granted by the Court of Appeal in Bucharest, Bedfordshire Police confirmed they had obtained arrest warrants for two men in their 30s as part of an investigation into allegations of rape and human trafficking.
“This is a distressing topic and we understand that people can be affected by what they see in the news,” the force said in a statement.
According to the brothers' legal representatives, the allegations date back to 2012 to 2015.
Video: Romanian police detain Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan over UK arrest warrant
After their release, one of their lawyers, Eugen Vidinac, said: “We are grateful for the Bucharest Court of Appeal's decision to postpone the extradition of Andrew and Tristan Tate.”
“This judgment provides an opportunity for the brothers to fully participate in the defense and proceed with the legal process in a transparent manner.”
Romanian authorities are investigating separate charges, including rape, human trafficking and forming a criminal organization, which the brothers deny.
They are accused of exploiting women through their adult content business, which prosecutors allege was run as a criminal gang.
Mr Tate has repeatedly maintained that Romanian prosecutors have no evidence against him and that there is a conspiracy to silence him.
In Monday's speech, Vidinak added: “Our customers actively participate in the legal process and are committed to protecting their reputations.
“We believe this rumor stemmed from a popular online influencer misinterpreting a text message from a client during a live stream.
“There's no truth to that at all.”
