Tristan Tate's company is supposed to be based in this property on the Terasa housing estate. According to a neighbour, tenants live there. (source: Korzár/Michal Lendel)
Andrew and Tristan Tate - former kickboxers turned social media provocateurs - are no strangers to controversy. Facing human trafficking and organised crime charges in Romania, their financial dealings have also drawn scrutiny in the UK and US. But one lesser-known chapter of their business empire leads to Slovakia.
Tristan Tate is the registered owner of Talisman SK, a company based in Košice since 2021, according to Slovak daily Korzár. Officially, the firm operates in trade, brokerage and real estate rentals, though transparency is lacking–no financial statements have been published. The Slovak tax authorities have flagged it as “less reliable” due to outstanding tax liabilities, though the sum involved is a mere €330.
Adding to the intrigue, the company’s director, Peter Bodnár, shares an address with the business. Locals describe the premises as an unremarkable building in a redevelopment zone. Efforts to contact Bodnár proved unsuccessful, with his mother offering only a vague response, calling Tristan Tate a “family friend” before swiftly shutting down further questions.
“We’ve known Tristan since he was 18. He’s basically our friend,” she said.
Bodnár’s social media profile features several old photographs with Tristan Tate, the most recent dating back to 2018.
A history in eastern Slovakia
The Tates’ links to eastern Slovakia stretch back to 2015-16, when they were frequent visitors, combining kickboxing training with Košice’s nightlife. Their presence was hard to miss–one local recalls they were always “surrounded by attractive women”.
Adam Očkaják, now a deputy mayor in Košice’s Juh district, downplays their business involvement in Slovakia, insisting the brothers were “just poor kickboxers” passing through.
“I know nothing about the Tates’ business activities here. As far as I’m aware, they had none. Years ago, they came to Košice a few times, and we invited them for a beer. I even know someone who once worked with them in a sandwich shop. That’s it,” said Očkaják.
Fico praise
Despite their mounting legal troubles, the Tates remain prominent figures in right-wing circles, with a well-documented admiration for Donald Trump. But more recently, Tristan Tate has turned his attention to Slovak politics, praising Prime Minister Robert Fico.
In a social media post, he hailed Fico as a “tough guy” worth listening to.
Following last year’s assassination attempt in Handlová, Andrew Tate went further, describing Fico as “the man who saved Slovakia”. Tristan Tate took a more tailored approach – delivering a video message in Slovak, expressing support for the embattled leader.
