The self-styled “misogynist influencer” Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan have returned to Romania, where they remain under investigation, with Andrew telling reporters that they had returned because “innocent men don’t run from anything”.

The dual US and British citizens were arrested in Romania in late 2022 amid accusations of misleading women and transporting them to Romania where they were later sexually exploited and subjected to physical violence. Andrew Tate is also accused of rape. The brothers have denied all wrongdoing.

Shortly after arriving in Bucharest early on Saturday, the pair spoke to reporters outside their residence. “We’re here to clear our names and exonerate ourselves,” said Andrew Tate.

Andrew, 38, a former professional kickboxer, and Tristan, 36, remain under judicial supervision in Romania. Last month, authorities in Romania said the brothers were obliged to return for a court appearance on 24 March or potentially face “a higher custodial measure”.

Earlier Andrew Tate – who has been banned from several social media platforms for his misogynistic views and hate speech – told his more than 10 million followers on X that he had spent $185,000 on a private jet in order to “sign one single piece of paper in Romania”.

On arrival, however, he told reporters that he was glad to be back in Romania. “After all we’ve been through, we truly deserve the day in court where it is stated that we’ve done nothing wrong and that we should have never been in court in the first place. We should have never gone to jail. We should have never had our assets seized. We should have never had our names slandered,” he said. “Anyone who believed any of this garbage has a particularly low IQ.”

Their return to eastern Europe comes nearly a month after the brothers’ travel ban was lifted. Soon after, the brothers announced that they had flown on a private jet to Florida.

They swiftly found themselves entangled in another criminal investigation, this time launched by Florida’s attorney general, James Uthmeier. “These guys have themselves publicly admitted to participating in what very much appears to be soliciting, trafficking, preying upon women around the world,” said Uthmeier.

The accusation came days after Andrew Tate told journalists in Florida: “We’ve yet to be convicted of any kind of crime in our lives ever. We’ve no criminal record anywhere on the planet ever.”

Their arrival in the US prompted speculation as to whether the Trump administration had leaned on officials in Romania to lift the travel restrictions. The Tates are outspoken supporters of Donald Trump and several members of the US president’s inner circle have spoken out publicly about their case, including Donald Trump Jr who described their detention as “absolute insanity” in May 2023.

While the US president later said he knew nothing about the travel ban being lifted, a US source told Reuters that Washington had pressed Bucharest to give the brothers their passports and allow them to travel.

Speaking to reporters on Saturday, Andrew Tate rejected these claims. “There’s no American pressure, there’s just the rule of law,” he said.

It was unclear how long the brothers, who are facing legal challenges in several countries, would stay in Romania. In December, a court in Bucharest ruled that the case against them could not go to trial, citing multiple legal and procedural irregularities. The case, however, remained open.

Last August, Romania’s anti-organised crime agency Diicot launched a second case against the brothers, amid accusations that the brothers had used the so-called “loverboy” method – convincing people they are in a romantic relationship – to force 34 women into making pornography that was sold online for almost $3m (£2.1m).

At the time, the agency said it was investigating allegations of human trafficking, the trafficking of minors, sexual intercourse with a minor, influencing statements and money laundering. The brothers have denied the charges.

Four British women have also accused Andrew Tate of sexual violence and physical abuse, launching a civil suit in the UK after the Crown Prosecution Service decided not to prosecute him.

Last March, authorities in the UK said they had been granted a warrant over accusations of sexual aggression dating back to 2012, meaning the brothers would be extradited once the legal proceedings in Romania were completed. The brothers have also denied these allegations.