Romanian prosecutors allowed Andrew and Tristan Tate to fly to US but say they must return when summoned – live | Romania

Romanian media Adevarul and Antena 3 CNN are both reporting from their sources that the pair are expected to report for a court hearing in Bucharest in late March.

The statement from the Romanian Directorate for Investigating Organised Crime and Terrorism says that “the two defendants of dual British-American citizenship” have been allowed to travel, but have to report when summoned and any violation of this condition could lead to stricter restrictions on their movement.

Here it is in full (in Romanian).

Romanian prosecutors approved the request of internet personality Andrew Tate to travel outside Romania pending criminal investigation, Reuters reported.

In other news, Austria may soon get a new government, after the conservative People’s Party (OVP) and Social Democrats (SPÖ) have just agreed to form a three-way coalition with the liberal Neos – The New Austria and Liberal Forum party.

The government’s 200-page programme will be presented at a press conference at 11am CET and reportedly includes provisions for radical toughening of migration and asylum laws.

The new cabinet is expected to be sworn in by Monday, but the deal is still subject to final approvals by parties.

The talks between the three parties were again opened last week after previous attempts to form government in various configurations, including led by the election winners in the far-right Freedom party (FPÖ), failed to get any traction.

It has been five months since the general election in September, the longest it has taken Austria to form a government since the second world war.

Morning opening: And now for something different

Jakub Krupa

Today was meant to be all about UK prime minister Keir Starmer’s visit to the US, a second attempt this week – after French president Emmanuel Macron’s trip on Monday – to put forward European arguments to US president Donald Trump in a bid to convince the new US administration of the importance of supporting Ukraine.

But, but, but.

Controversial British-American influencers Andrew and Tristan Tate have reportedly left Romania this morning on a private flight to the US, after securing a permission to leave the country, Romanian media report.

The former professional kickboxer and his brother Tristan were arrested in 2022 and indicted in mid-2023, along with two Romanian women, on charges of human trafficking, rape and forming a criminal gang to sexually exploit women.

The brothers, who are dual UK-US citizens and have been vocal supporters of Trump, have denied wrongdoing. The UK is seeking the brothers’ extradition after Bedfordshire police were granted a warrant as part of an investigation into allegations of rape and human trafficking.

What does it have to do with Starmer’s visit to the US and European relations with the new Trump administration, I hear you ask?

In recent weeks, Financial Times (£) and other media outlets reported that the new US administration has pressed the Romanian authorities to lift travel restrictions on the pair.

The reports were denied by the Romanian government, with the country’s prime minister Marcel Ciolacu saying last week that “the US has not made any requests to Romania” on this. Romanian foreign minister Emil Hurezeanu was quoted, however, as confirming, however that the US enquired about the brothers – even if he insisted there was “no form of pressure”.

According to Antena 3 CNN, a Romanian news channel partnered with the US cable network, the brothers left on a private plane for Florida at 5:30am (3:30 GMT) this morning, after securing a permission to travel from the Romanian prosecutor’s office.

The issue could have an impact on Starmer’s visit with questions over the role the US administration played in allowing the brothers to travel.

I will bring you all the latest on this, Ukraine, and other topics around Europe.

It’s Thursday, 27 February 2025, and this is Europe live. It’s Jakub Krupa here.

Good morning.