Controversial 'manosphere' influencer Andrew Tate has been promoting Vladimir Putin's military via his social media accounts during a trip to Russia. The self-described misogynist, alongside his brother Tristan, was seen in military fatigues at a training facility, brandishing Russian weapons.
Propaganda Trip Coincides with Russian Economic Forum
The visit coincided with Putin's St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, often called 'Russian Davos'. The brothers posed for photos and videos, with Tristan's uniform displaying the Russian tricolour. The footage uses the Soviet-era song Katyusha, linked to WWII and a rocket launcher.
Legal Troubles Follow the Tates
Andrew and Tristan Tate face criminal charges in England and Romania. In the UK, Andrew faces a civil case from four women alleging sexual violence, assault, and coercive control. Romanian authorities have charged them with human trafficking, rape, and forming an organised criminal group, following their arrest in December 2022. An extradition warrant exists, but the Crown Prosecution Service awaits the Romanian case's resolution. The Tates deny all charges.
Criticism from British Women's Lawyer
Matthew Jury, solicitor for the British women, condemned the UK's failure to extradite Tate, calling it a 'profound national embarrassment'. He stated, 'That failure has now produced the extraordinary spectacle of Tate travelling to Russia – a state that has decriminalised some forms of domestic violence – to be handed a new platform from which to attack Western values and amplify Putin's propaganda.'
One of the women involved described his visit as 'deeply upsetting'. The Tates' actions come amid Putin's illegal invasion of Ukraine, which has resulted in over half a million deaths.
