Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan have been reported to Britain's counter-terror policing unit by an MP alleging they have created a "Russian propaganda" video.
The clip, posted on the Tates' social media channels in June, shows the siblings dressed in camouflage and body armour, apparently in Russia. They appear to ride a Soviet-era battle tank and arm themselves with weapons including a flamethrower while also hurling grenades from a trench.
Foreign Influence Registration Scheme
Russia is on the enhanced tier of the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme, under which activity in the UK where a person is acting at Moscow's direction must be registered. The guidance also states that activity abroad that has an effect in the UK – including social media posts targeted at UK individuals – could be in the scope of registration requirements.
Alicia Kearns, the MP for Rutland and Stamford, has written to the Home Office and referred the matter to Counter Terrorism Policing, arguing there are grounds to examine whether the brothers were required to register.
MP's call for investigation
"Putin has his latest propaganda puppets: the Tate Brothers. Andrew and Tristan Tate filmed themselves sprouting pro-Kremlin propaganda whilst using Russian weapons," Ms Kearns said on X. She said: "They need to come clean: How did they get on a Russian military base – did they receive any direction or assistance from the Russian state? If the answer is yes, and they failed to register, they are in-breach of the law. I’ve reported them to the Police to investigate."
In a statement to the Mirror, Andrew and Tristan’s US legal representative, Joe McBride, "categorically denied" any suggestion their "travel to Russia was funded, coordinated or directed by the Russian state". He said: "Going to a gun range is as American as apple pie. Americans love to shoot guns and blow things up. The Second Amendment gives us that right. It is absurd to equate a day at the range with military training. That is like saying a day at the driving range makes you a professional golfer. Millions of Americans shoot every year for sport, for skill, and for the plain enjoyment of it, which is to say for the same reasons they golf on the weekend. Lawful conduct does not become a crime because the government finds it frightening."
Previous comments on Ukraine
The Mirror has contacted counter-terror police and the Home Office for comment. Andrew Tate addressed the Ukraine war in an interview with Tucker Carlson in 2023. "What I will say to people who are watching this at home is that if you are naive enough to believe that there are good guys and bad guys in wars and it’s as simple as good and bad and that the bad guys are crazy and the good guys want freedom, then you need to do a little bit more investigation into what is really happening," Tate said.
