Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan Tate have been reported to Britain’s counter-terror policing unit and the Home Office over an alleged ‘Russian propaganda’ video. The clip, posted on the Tates’ social media channels in June, shows the siblings dressed in camouflage and body armor in Russia, riding a Soviet-era T-80BV battle tank, arm themselves with weapons including a flamethrower and throw grenades from a trench. A man guiding them through the course tells them that they could win a ‘special medal’ from the ‘minister of defence of Russia.’ Alicia Kearns, the MP for Rutland and Stamford, who made the complaint, stated that the brothers need to ‘come clean’ about their involvement with the Russian state.
Kearns argues that the Conservatives’ National Security Act clearly states anyone spreading propaganda for a hostile foreign state is legally required to register. A representative for the Tate brothers has denied any wrongdoing, claiming that the visit was ‘private and personal’ and that they received no payment, compensation, financial assistance or direction from the Russian state. The representative also downplayed the significance of the video, comparing it to a day at a gun range and stating that lawful conduct does not become a crime because the government finds it frightening.
Kearns argues that there are grounds to investigate whether the brothers were required to register under the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme (FIRS), which operates under the National Security Act and requires individuals to register where they may be carrying out activities in the UK for foreign powers. The brothers have previously made comments that appear sympathetic to Russia, with Andrew Tate praising Russian leader Vladimir Putin for his handling of the Covid pandemic and Tristan Tate tweeting that the world is relying on Russia to ‘save the world.’ The Tate brothers were arrested in Miami on 18 July to face charges of rape, assault and facilitating trafficking for sexual exploitation and remain in federal custody while fighting extradition to the United Kingdom. The Independent has contacted Kearns, Counter-Terror Police, and the Home Office for comment on the matter.
