Tate brothers referred to counter-terror police over alleged Russia propaganda trip

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Alicia Kearns 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 under the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme (FIRS), part of the National Security Act.

The legislation requires individuals to register certain arrangements where they carry out activities in the UK under the direction of, or for, specified foreign powers.

In a 40-minute-long video posted across their various online accounts, Andrew and Tristan can be seen travelling to Russia.

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While there, they visit iconic landmarks such as the Kremlin, Red Square and St Basil’s Basilica, they play chess in Chess Square, where Andrew and Tristan make jokes about George Floyd, and flex their wealth.

Upon arrival in Russia, they were greeted by a group of men and women wearing traditional clothing, who encouraged the pair to dance and sing.

Throughout the video, the Tate brothers share facts about Russia and the age of espionage, as well as the Romanovs and their summer palace.

The longest segment of the video shows Andrew and Tristan dressed in military-style camouflage and body armour, wearing helmets, hearing and eye protection and, in several clips, Russian flag patches, as they take part in a series of battlefield-style activities at a training ground in Russia.

The brothers are seen riding on and inside what has been identified as a Soviet-era T-80BV main battle tank, a gas-turbine powered vehicle still used by Russian forces in Ukraine and armed in military service with a 125mm smoothbore main gun, as well as stripping and reassembling a Kalashnikov-pattern assault rifle, firing weapons on a range and throwing hand grenades from the cover of a trench.

Other footage shows Tate being given the opportunity to use a grenade launcher and operating what is described as a flamethrower, while the brothers are also filmed singing “Katyusha”, the famous Russian song closely associated with the Soviet wartime era.

The footage, posted during their June visit to Russia, was presented online as military training and shows the pair surrounded by men in military-style uniform as they are instructed through the various exercises.

At one point, the “commander” they are with jokingly tells them that whoever completes the obstacle course the fastest will win a “special medal of Minister of Defence of Russia”.

Ms Kearns alleges the trip raises questions about whether the brothers were acting under the direction of, or received payment from, the Russian state and therefore should have registered under the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme.

No authority has made any finding that the brothers breached the legislation and neither brother has been charged with any offence.

Both Andrew and Tristan Tate categorically deny the allegations made by Ms Kearns.

A representative for the brothers told LBC that their visit to Russia was “private and personal”, adding that they received “no payment, compensation, financial assistance or direction from the Russian state”, and that they did not deliver any Russian government talking points.

The Tory MP told LBC: “It's quite clear that when the Tate brothers travelled to Russia, they were part of some kind of junket for essentially Putin apologists and useful idiots.

“They were pumping out Russian propaganda. There was no question about it.

“And that's why I think it's so important that they need to register themselves as agents working for the Russian state.”

These are allegations made by Ms Kearns. No evidence has been produced that the brothers were paid by, or acted on the direction of, the Russian state

Tristan, in particular, has shared several posts on X over the last few years that express pro-Russia sentiment or repeat talking points about the Ukraine war and NATO.

In one, dated October 23, 2025 he questioned why the people of Poland are scared of Russia, when it was the USSR that was hostile towards them.

He added: “Empires fall, times change, Russia is only a threat to Poland so long as their ridiculous posture against them stands.”

Another from October 4, 2024, reads: “There is 0 genuine reason why the west and Russia cannot just be friends and live in peace.

“Russia is a manufactured boogeyman, held accountable for the crimes of the USSR which no longer exists.

“We do not hold modern Turks, Brits, French or Germans accountable for the crimes of their empires, but with Russia we do.”

And, on November 19, 2024, he tweeted at former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev to say that “we are relying on Russia to save the world”.

Ms Kearns added: “The Tate Brothers need to come clean. It's not a lot we're asking. Transparency.

“Did you take direction from the Russian state? Did you take money from the Russian state?

“I've written to the Minister for Security, Dan Jarvis, and asked him to investigate this because it's the government's duty to investigate those who fail to register themselves.”

Ms Kearns, the former chair of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, said the issue extended beyond the Tate brothers, arguing the law was designed to ensure transparency where online personalities may be promoting the interests of hostile foreign powers.

She said: “The Foreign Interference Registration Scheme exists because we know that foreign states are trying to influence our political system, our democracy, and obviously many of them are doing it in a hostile manner.

“Russia, without question, is one.

“This legislation is all about transparency. If you want to take money from other people, if you want to take direction from other states, that's your decision, but you have to register yourself with the Home Office so the public knows who you're working for.

“If you take money from the Russian state, if you take direction from them, that is really important because the state needs to know who it is that is helping those who are threatening our security and our safety.”

Kearns said she had referred the matter to Counter Terrorism Policing and written to ministers to raise the issue.

The offence of failing to register a relevant arrangement under the scheme carries a maximum sentence of five years’ imprisonment. No charge has been brought against either brother and no authority has made any finding that they breached FIRS.

The brothers’ representative told LBC: “Andrew and Tristan Tate travelled to Russia in June for private and personal reasons. They have already stated publicly, on multiple occasions, that the visit was personal. They received no payment, compensation, financial assistance, logistical support, or direction from the Russian state, any Russian government body, or any person acting on behalf of the Russian state.

“They did not attend or speak at any state-organized political event and intentionally did not attend the St Petersburg International Economic Forum (despite inaccurate reporting at the time suggesting they were in attendance). They were not provided with Russian government talking points.

“They were not instructed to promote any Russian government message. They did not act under the direction or control of any foreign power.

“The public messaging they gave during the visit was also clear: serious countries should take each other seriously; people should see places for themselves rather than relying on recycled media narratives; dialogue matters; and countries should work towards peace rather than escalation. That is not ‘propaganda’. It is a basic statement in favor of direct observation, dialogue and peace.

“On the facts, there is no proper basis to suggest that Andrew or Tristan Tate were required to register under the UK’s Foreign Influence Registration Scheme.

“There was no arrangement with a foreign power, no direction by a foreign power, no payment by a foreign power, no official Russian government activity, and no political influence activity carried out in the United Kingdom on behalf of a foreign power.

“If a Conservative MP has referred this matter to Counter Terrorism Policing without evidence that Andrew or Tristan were paid, directed, assisted or instructed by the Russian state, that referral is deeply troubling and appears to be a politically motivated attempt to weaponize national security language against two private individuals because a public figure dislikes the optics of their travel and commentary.

“That is not how the rule of law is supposed to work. Counter Terrorism Policing exists to protect the public from serious threats. It should not be used as a political complaints desk for MPs seeking headlines or trying to smear people they dislike.

“If an MP has made a referral without any evidential foundation, our clients reserve all rights to ask the police and any relevant prosecuting or parliamentary authorities to consider whether that referral was reckless, vexatious, an abuse of process, or a wasteful use of police time.”

In response to this, Ms Kearns told LBC: “When there is reasonable suspicion and grounds to report that a law has been violated, citizens have a civic duty to report it."

Security minister Dan Jarvis said that he could not comment on individual cases related to FIRS but reiterated that the Government will not hesitate to use the powers available to them when activities pose a risk to national security.

A Counter Terrorism Policing spokesperson said: “Any allegations relating to possible terrorism or national security related offences are passed to officers within Counter Terrorism Policing, who will assess the details and take any further action as appropriate. More broadly, we do not comment on who may or may not be subject to any investigation.”