Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan have been reported to UK counter-terror police over a video from their June 2026 visit to Russia, in which they appear riding a Soviet-era T-80BV battle tank, firing weapons including a flamethrower, and throwing grenades from a trench.
The referral came from Alicia Kearns, the Conservative MP for Rutland and Stamford, who alleged the brothers filmed themselves “sprouting pro-Kremlin propaganda whilst using Russian weapons.” Kearns said she reported them to police to investigate whether they were required to register under the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme (FIRS), which operates under the National Security Act and mandates that individuals carrying out activities in the UK for foreign powers must register.
“How did they get on a Russian military base — did they receive any direction or assistance from the Russian state?” Kearns said on X. “If the answer is yes, and they failed to register, they are in breach of the law.”
The Tate brothers’ representatives disputed the characterization of the visit. In a statement, they said the trip was “private and personal” and that they received “no payment, compensation, financial assistance or direction from the Russian state.” They compared the activity to visiting a shooting range, arguing that “millions of Americans shoot every year for sport, for skill, and for the plain enjoyment of it.”
The referral adds a new dimension to the brothers’ legal troubles. Andrew and Tristan Tate were arrested in Miami on July 18 by U.S. Marshals on an extradition request from British authorities. They face charges including rape, sexual assault, and facilitating trafficking for sexual exploitation, with prosecutors alleging dozens of counts against them. The brothers remain in federal custody while fighting extradition to the United Kingdom.
The brothers have previously made public statements sympathetic to Russia. In a 2023 interview with Tucker Carlson, Andrew Tate questioned the simplicity of framing the Ukraine war as good versus bad, and he has praised Vladimir Putin’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. Tristan tweeted in 2024 that “We are relying on Russia to save the world” in response to NATO concerns, and warned Russia not to let the U.S. administration “provoke” it.
Sources
- The Independent — the full text of the Tate brothers’ video, Kearns’ statement on X, and the brothers’ denial of receiving Russian state direction or payment
- Reuters, BBC, Al Jazeera, Sky News — confirmation of the brothers’ arrest in Miami on July 18, 2026, the charges they face, and their ongoing extradition proceedings
- The Guardian — details on the brothers’ previous pro-Russia statements and the context of their extradition case
