The previous chief of Reform UK in Wales has been sentenced to 10 and a half years after he admitted accepting tens of 1000’s of kilos in money to make pro-Russian statements to the media and European Parliament.
Nathan Gill had accepted cash in “exchange for the improper execution of your public duties”, Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb stated.
Gill, 52, of Anglesey, North Wales, pleaded responsible to eight counts of bribery between 6 December 2018 and 18 July 2019 in September.
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Nathan Gill is surrounded by media as he arrives on the Outdated Bailey. Pic: PA
The Outdated Bailey heard his actions have been linked to pro-Russian statements about Ukraine throughout his time as an MEP.He was an MEP for the UK Independence Social gathering (UKIP) and subsequently the Brexit Social gathering.
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Nathan Gill pleaded responsible to eight counts of bribery. Pic: Met Police
Prosecutor Mark Heywood KC beforehand informed the court docket the bribery offences associated to Gill’s affiliation with pro-Russian Oleg Voloshyn, who had been a Ukrainian authorities official earlier than 2014 and was sanctioned by the UK in 2022.
Gill’s actions emerged in WhatsApp messages after he was stopped at Manchester Airport on 13 September 2021.
He was about to board a flight to Russia to be an observer in elections there.
Bundles of money recovered
Police stated the messages revealed Voloshyn had tasked Gill to make pro-Russian statements on a reward foundation. Counter-terrorism officers stated the textual content of some speeches was supplied to Gill, which he delivered virtually word-for-word.
A search of his residence in Wales additionally uncovered 1000’s in euros and {dollars}.
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Bundles of money have been recovered from Gill’s residence. Pic: Met Police
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Pic: Met Police
Greed ‘major motivation’
Commander Dominic Murphy, head of the Metropolitan Police Counter Terrorism Command, described Gill as being motivated by cash.
“It appears… greed was his primary motivation. But I think there’s an element of him that had a pro-Russian stance as well, but only he can answer that question, to be honest with you, he never told us that.”
Gill was interviewed in March 2022 and made no remark. He was charged and appeared in court docket in February 2025.
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Gill stated no remark when interviewed by officers in 2022. Pic: Met Police
The Outdated Bailey was informed messages between Gill and Mr Voloshyn concerned an “agreement to receive money in connection with his performance in his duties as a member of the European Parliament”.
They included “posing questions for the consideration of (the European) parliament, making contact with senior officials of the European Commission at the parliament, arranging for events and making statements”, the prosecution informed the court docket.
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Gill was paid to supply commentary to pro-Russian media outlet, 112 Ukraine. Pic: Met Police
Different UK politicians in danger
Commander Murphy stated that police have been persevering with to analyze different MEPs, together with some from the UK.
“What we do know from the conversations with [Oleg] Voloshyn is that Nathan Gill actually offered his services to contact other MEPs, mostly UK MEPs, to also make statements that might be supportive of a Russian position in Ukraine,” he stated.
He added: “I do believe that some of the individuals in this case do have direct connections to Vladimir Putin. And I have no doubt that if we were able to, we could follow this trail and it would lead straight to Moscow.”
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Commander Dominic Murphy believes greed was Gill’s major motivation
Gill was beforehand a member of the UK Independence Social gathering (UKIP), main the Welsh wing of the celebration between 2014 and 2016.
He was a member of the Senedd between 2016 and 2017, and a member of the European Parliament between 2014 and 2020.
He left UKIP in 2019, and the identical 12 months he joined Nigel Farage’s Brexit Social gathering – later Reform UK – and was elected as a Brexit Social gathering MEP.
Political fallout after jail time period
Police have confirmed Nigel Farage has not been a part of this investigation, however political rivals have referred to as on the Reform UK chief to launch a radical investigation.
Defence minister Al Carns, a former colonel within the Royal Marines, stated Gill’s actions have been “a disgrace”. He added: “I just think wherever we see Russian influence in UK politics, it’s got to be weeded out.”
In the meantime, Liberal Democrat chief Sir Ed Davey stated “a traitor was at the very top of Reform UK”, referring to Gill, but in addition launched a direct assault on Mr Farage by calling him, and his celebration, “a danger to national security”.
“Nigel Farage himself was previously paid to be on Putin’s TV channel, Russia Today, and said he was the world leader he admires the most.
“We should all ask – the place do his loyalties actually lie? We’d like a full investigation into Russian interference in our politics,” he said.
Reform UK, which previously kicked Gill out of the party, said in a statement: “Mr Gill’s actions have been reprehensible, treasonous and unforgivable. We’re glad that justice has been served and absolutely welcome the sentence Nathan Gill has obtained.”
Liz Saville Roberts, Plaid Cymru’s Westminster chief, welcomed Gill’s jail sentence “for his acts of betrayal in taking bribes from Russia”.
In an announcement, she stated: “If the former Reform UK leader in Wales was part of a broader, co-ordinated effort to advance Moscow’s agenda within our democratic institutions, then the public deserves to know the full truth, and how far Russian money and influence reached into Nigel Farage’s inner circle.”
