Andrew Tate granted permission to leave Romania as he awaits trial

Controversial social media influencer Andrew Tate has been granted permission to leave Romania , but must remain within the European Union as he awaits trial on human trafficking and rape.

The Bucharest Tribunal's decision marks a significant development in the case against Tate, 37, his brother Tristan and two Romanian women.

All four were arrested near Bucharest in December 2022 and formally indicted last June. They deny all allegations.

Tate, a former kickboxer with dual British-US citizenship, celebrated the ruling on social media, declaring: "I AM FREE. FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 3 YEARS I CAN LEAVE ROMANIA. THE SHAM CASE IS FALLING APART."

His lawyer, Eugen Vidineac, hailed the decision as a reflection of his clients' "exemplary behaviour", adding that the Tates remain "determined to clear their name and reputation".

The case has been mired in legal proceedings for months, with a trial date yet to be set. The brothers have progressed from police detention to house arrest, and now EU-wide travel.

Tate, who boasts 9.5 million followers on X (formerly Twitter), has consistently claimed the case is politically motivated.

He was previously banned from various social media platforms for alleged misogyny and hate speech.

In a separate case, Tate faces a civil lawsuit in the UK brought by four British women alleging sexual and physical assault. The Crown Prosecution Service declined to prosecute in 2019, leading the women to pursue a civil case.

Additionally, both Tate brothers are subject to extradition warrants from UK authorities over allegations dating from 2012-2015.

The Bucharest Court of Appeal has granted the extradition request, but only after Romanian legal proceedings conclude.

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