British women who have accused Andrew Tate of rape, assault and coercive control have criticised his appearance in Russia while UK authorities have not yet moved to extradite him. Tate, who publicly praises Vladimir Putin and regularly echoes Kremlin narratives online, arrived in Moscow during the same week Russia hosted an annual economic forum that also drew prominent right-wing figures from the United States. His presence has intensified debate over whether Britain is doing enough to pursue the case against him.
Tate and his brother Tristan face serious criminal allegations in the UK, including rape, actual bodily harm and human trafficking, alongside a civil claim brought by four women. The brothers are also under investigation in Romania, where they were arrested in December 2022 and later charged with human trafficking, rape and forming an organised criminal group. Although an extradition warrant exists, the Crown Prosecution Service has agreed that the brothers will not be sent to the UK until the Romanian proceedings are completed.
That decision has been sharply criticised by Matthew Jury, the solicitor representing the British women in the civil case. He said the failure to secure extradition had created the “extraordinary spectacle” of Tate being given a platform in Russia. He argued that British authorities had failed both the women seeking justice and the country’s wider interests. He said Tate’s trip to Russia was especially troubling because it allowed him to amplify his anti-Western message and Putin-friendly propaganda to millions of followers, at a time when the government describes violence against women and girls as a national emergency.
One of the women involved in the damages claim said Tate’s ability to travel freely was deeply upsetting given the outstanding extradition warrant and the seriousness of the charges. She urged the UK government to act, warning that repeated commitments to tackling violence against women could be seen by victims as empty promises if no meaningful action followed.
Tate has built a large online audience by promoting misogynistic views, praising Putin, and spreading content aligned with Russian state messaging. He has also repeated Kremlin talking points about the war in Ukraine. In a previous interview with conservative commentator Tucker Carlson, Tate thanked Putin for having “cured Covid,” referring to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The brothers were able to travel after Romanian authorities lifted restrictions, reportedly amid pressure from the Trump administration. Their arrival in Russia coincided with President Putin’s annual conference in St Petersburg, where Russian officials and state media sought to highlight links with Western right-wing figures. US commentator Candace Owens attended, and a Trump appointee also took part in a session on Russian-American cultural ties, underscoring the Kremlin’s interest in building relationships with political disruptors in the West.
Tate told The Guardian that he visited Russia because “serious countries should be taken seriously,” saying he wanted to understand how people live and do business. His lawyer said the Romanian case must be fully resolved before any extradition can occur, adding that Tate would voluntarily travel to the UK once those proceedings end. The UK Home Office said it remained committed to treating violence against women and girls as an emergency, but declined to confirm whether an extradition request had been made.
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