The previous chief of Reform UK in Wales has pleaded responsible to bribery over pro-Russian statements about Ukraine within the European Parliament.
Nathan Gill, 52, of Anglesey, North Wales, pleaded responsible to eight counts of bribery between 6 December 2018 and 18 July 2019 on the Outdated Bailey on Friday.
The costs relate to when Gill was a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) for Wales earlier than the UK left the European Union in 2020. He additionally led Reform UK’s 2021 Welsh Parliament election marketing campaign, however is now not a member of the celebration.
He was advised to make such statements on eight events by Oleg Voloshyn – who had been a Ukrainian authorities official earlier than 2014 – “and others”, earlier than accepting “quantities of money in cash”, the court docket heard.
This amounted to “improper performance” as an individual in elected workplace, the prosecution mentioned.
Gill denied one additional cost of conspiracy to commit bribery, which the choose determined would lie on file.
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Pic: PA
Gill was stopped by police at Manchester Airport on 13 September 2021 below the Counter Terrorism and Border Safety Act 2019.
Detectives seized his cellphone and searched his dwelling in north Wales, the place they took extra of his digital gadgets.
Messages revealed communication between Gill and Mr Voloshyn of an “agreement to receive money in connection with his performance in his duties as a member of the European Parliament”, Prosecutor Mark Heywood KC mentioned.
He was interviewed below warning in March 2022 and charged on 20 January 2025.
Defending Gill, Peter Wright KC acknowledged he was going through a prolonged jail time period, however requested for the father-of-five to be given bail forward of his sentencing.
Mrs Justice Chubb mentioned that the previous politician had pleaded responsible to the “full facts” laid out by the prosecution.
“This is a serious matter. Nathan Gill has admitted having asked questions, made statements and carried out other activities in or connected with the European Parliament in support of pro-Russian parties in the Ukraine conflict,” she mentioned.
She granted him conditional bail forward of sentencing on the similar court docket on 21 November.
Talking after Friday’s plea listening to, Commander Dominic Murphy, head of the Met’s counter terrorism command, mentioned: “Our investigation uncovered an elected MEP was taking payments to peddle narratives that would have had the effect of being beneficial towards Russian interests.
“This case goes to the guts of our democratic values and as we have proven right here, we won’t hesitate to research and disrupt anybody looking for to hurt or undermine these values and our nationwide safety.”
