A Romanian court has rejected Andrew Tate’s request to temporarily leave the country while awaiting trial on human trafficking charges, to visit his mother in London.

Tate was indicted in June along with his brother Tristan and two Romanian female suspects for human trafficking, rape and forming a criminal gang to sexually exploit women – allegations they have denied.

Under Romanian law, the case is now with the Bucharest court’s preliminary chamber, which needs to inspect the files to ensure legality. The trial will not start until that process is completed.

“We regret to inform you that the Romanian court of appeals has denied Andrew and Tristan Tate’s request to travel to the UK over the holidays, which would also include a visit to their mother, who recently suffered a heart attack,” their representatives said in a statement.

The court said their request was “unfounded”.

The Tate brothers had requested they be allowed to leave to visit their mother.

“The Romanian state decided she must be alone at Christmas, if she is alive,” Tate wrote on Twitter.

The brothers, who have dual US and British citizenship, were held in police custody pending a criminal investigation from late December 2022 until April, to prevent them from fleeing the country or tampering with evidence.

They were then placed under house arrest until August. Since then, they have been under judicial control, a lighter preventative measure.

Tate, a self-described misogynist, has gained millions of fans online by promoting an ultra-masculine lifestyle that critics say denigrates women.