Former Welsh Reform leader jailed for pro-Russia bribery
22 minutes agoDavid Deans,Wales political reporter and Ben Summer,BBC Wales
James Manning/PA WireThe former leader of Reform UK in Wales has been sentenced to 10-and-a-half years in prison after admitting taking bribes for pro-Russia interviews and speeches.
Nathan Gill, 52, from Llangefni, Anglesey, received about £40,000 in total for helping pro-Russian politicians in Ukraine.
He was a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) when he accepted money from Oleg Voloshyn, 44, a man once described by the US government as a “pawn” of Russian secret services.
At the Old Bailey, Judge Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb said Gill had abused his position and eroded “public confidence in democracy”.
Voloshyn was acting on behalf of “close friend” Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian oligarch Viktor Medvedchuk, 71, who was the source of both the requests and the cash.
The Met Police said investigations into “whether any other individuals have committed offences” are continuing.
Cdr Dominic Murphy, head of the Met Police’s counter-terrorism team, said Gill was an “extraordinarily willing participant” in the bribery, describing his actions as a “threat to national security”.
He said the case formed part of a “breadth of activity” by Russia, including incidents such as the Salisbury poisonings in 2018 and an arson attack in London in 2024.
“These are the types of things that we’re seeing Russia commit across Europe – and it’s why our international relations, particularly in counter-terrorism policing, are so important to how we can confront Russia and make sure we disrupt their activity.”
Gill, who was an MEP from 2014 to 2020 – initially for UKIP and then the Brexit Party – pleaded guilty to eight charges of bribery at an earlier hearing in March.
In late 2018 and early 2019, he gave TV interviews on 112 Ukraine – one of two TV channels linked to Medvedchuk that were then under threat of being closed by the Ukrainian government.
Gill was bribed to defend the two channels – 112 Ukraine and NewsOne – in the European Parliament, and to speak in support of Medvedchuk, then a pro-Russian Ukrainian politician who faced criminal proceedings for high treason.
Voloshyn, the court heard, had links to those channels; his wife Nadia Borodi was also a presenter on 112.
Both channels were taken off air in 2021.
Voloshyn also tasked Gill with finding other MEPs to speak to 112, and gave him talking points to pass on to them.
The court heard Gill mainly enlisted MEPs from the UK but also some from Germany and France. No case was presented that these MEPs knew Gill was being bribed.
In texts obtained by police, Voloshyn said he would “request and secure at least 5K” for Gill if he got “three or four” others on board.
Gill responded: “I shall do my best.”
Cdr Murphy said there was no evidence Gill was paying others.
He said the “tone of the conversation” was Gill trying to “find people who could speak openly in support of the Russian narrative in Ukraine”.
Met PoliceGill also hosted Medvedchuk at the European Parliament’s base in Strasbourg to promote a so-called “peace plan” for the Donbas region – an event that was praised by Vladimir Putin the following day on Russian TV.
Voloshyn asked Gill to arrange for colleagues from the Brexit Party to attend, the court heard.
Prosecution barrister Mark Heywood KC said Voloshyn asked Gill to book a room. Gill told them he could “drag a few in”.
Voloshyn promised he would be fairly rewarded, saying: “I already have a small sack of paper gifts for you.”
In one set of messages, Voloshyn offered to bring $13,000 USD to him, as well as €4,000 for the peace plan.
By December 2018, Mr Heywood said messages indicated there was already a “close relationship between the two men”.
In her sentencing remarks at the Old Bailey, Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb said there was “scant personal mitigation”.
“Your misconduct has ramifications far beyond personal honour,” she said.
“The enlisting of fellow representatives into this activity compounds the wrongdoing, undermining the mutual trust essential to the proper functioning of democratic institutions.
“The corrosive damage to public life caused by such actions is enduring.”
Police began investigating Gill after tip-offs from their intelligence sources – including the FBI, who found messages to Gill on Voloshyn’s phone when he travelled to the US in 2021.
Officers were on the way to search Gill’s house on Anglesey, north Wales, on 13 September 2021 when they learned he had already left for Manchester Airport, in order to fly to Russia to attend a conference and observe elections.
When police became aware Gill was about to leave the country, the Met had him stopped at the border under counter-terrorism laws.
Gill was detained at the airport and his phone was searched, and found to contain messages to Voloshyn.
Voloshyn had offered Gill bribes on eight separate occasions – to make statements in the European Parliament, to appear on pro-Russian Ukrainian TV channels, and to organise other MEPs to give statements to these channels.
He used innuendoes to refer to money, on one occasion messaging Gill: “I’ve received all promised Xmas gifts and requested five more postcards for your kind help next week during the debate.”
Voloshyn provided scripts and instructions, directing Gill to speak up on behalf of 112 Ukraine and NewsOne.
“The budget and project is confirmed by V,” he told Gill on 4 December 2018, referencing Viktor Medvedchuk, adding “V always delivers if he promises.”
His message continued: “V was very excited when I told him of this option. And he really counts on it to happen.”
Police searching Gill’s house found €5,000 and $5,000 in cash.The court heard the total he received was likely at least £30,000.
The earliest offence Gill pleaded guilty to dates to the same day he left UKIP in 2018.
He continued taking bribes after joining Nigel Farage’s new Brexit Party.
Later, he led the party into the 2021 Senedd election after it rebranded as Reform UK.
In mitigation, defence barrister Philip Wright told the court his actions may seem “unfathomable” given the “laudable and noble” features of his political life.
“He recognises, and did by his guilty pleas, the enormity of what he has done and the betrayal of the trust placed in him and on his behalf by others to behave with integrity, and that he has let them and himself down,” Mr Wright said.
A Reform spokesperson said Nigel Farage was “deeply shocked and angered” by Gill’s actions, stating the Reform leader did not have any knowledge of them at the time.
Police said there was no link to Nigel Farage in their investigation.
Gill also represented North Wales in the Welsh Parliament, then known as the National Assembly for Wales, from 2016 to 2017. Police found no evidence to suggest criminal activity linked to this period.
In addition to the eight charges to which he pleaded guilty, he pleaded not guilty to one charge, of conspiracy to commit bribery.
“Nathan Gill has absolutely been held to account for his activity,” said Cdr Murphy.
“That should send a strong message to any elected official or anyone in an official capacity who is asked to act on behalf of another government and paid money to do so.”
Additional reporting by Daniel Davies.