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Ex-Reform UK Wales leader Nathan Gill pleads guilty to bribery charges Reform UK's ex-Wales leader Nathan Gill admits pro-Russia bribery
(about 1 hour later)
BBC reporter Meleri Williams asks Nathan Gill if he is ashamed for accepting the bribes BBC reporter Meleri Williams confronts Nathan Gill and asks if he is ashamed for accepting the bribes
The former leader of Reform UK in Wales has pleaded guilty to bribery charges relating to making statements in favour of Russia while being an elected member of the European Parliament. Reform UK's former leader in Wales has admitted taking bribes to make statements in favour of Russia while being a Member of the European Parliament.
Nathan Gill, 52, from Llangefni on Anglesey, admitted eight counts of bribery between 6 December 2018 and 18 July 2019, but denied one charge of conspiracy to commit bribery. Nathan Gill, 52, from Llangefni, Anglesey, pleaded guilty to eight counts of bribery between 6 December 2018 and 18 July 2019.
It was alleged he made statements in the European Parliament which were "supportive of a particular narrative" which would "benefit Russia regarding events in Ukraine". The politician took money from Oleg Voloshyn - a man once described by the US government as a "pawn" of Russian secret services - and made speeches in the parliament, statements to a TV channel and arranged an event with a pro-Russian politician.
Gill will be sentenced in November and his defence barrister said he expected jail. Gill will be sentenced in November and his defence barrister said he expected to be jailed.
The charges stated that Gill, as an elected member of the European Parliament for the constituency of Wales in the UK, "agreed to receive financial advantage, namely money", which constituted "the improper performance" as the holder of an elected office. The Old Bailey was told he was tasked by Ukrainian Oleg Voloshyn on at least eight occasions to make specific statements in return for money and there was evidence of WhatsApp messages between the two men.
He also made these statements in opinion pieces to news outlets, such as 112 Ukraine.
The court was told he was tasked by Ukrainian Oleg Voloshyn on at least eight occasions to make specific statements in return for money and there was evidence of WhatsApp messages between the two men.
Mr Voloshyn is a former member of the Ukrainian parliament for the pro-Russian Opposition Platform for Life party.Mr Voloshyn is a former member of the Ukrainian parliament for the pro-Russian Opposition Platform for Life party.
Former member of Ukrainian parliament, Oleg Voloshyn, (third from left) was found to be in contact with Nathan GillFormer member of Ukrainian parliament, Oleg Voloshyn, (third from left) was found to be in contact with Nathan Gill
The conspiracy to commit bribery alleged Gill conspired with Mr Voloshyn and "others" between 1 January 2018 and 1 February 2020, and that he accepted "quantities of money in cash" which was "improper performance by him of his function or activity as the holder" of a position in the European Parliament. The US, which sanctioned him in 2022 during the Joe Biden presidency prior to the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, said at the time that he had worked with "Russian actors to undermine Ukrainian officials and advocate on behalf of Russia".
Prosecutor Mark Heywood KC said the guilty pleas were "satisfactory" because the bribery charges reflected the criminal activities, and agreed to lie the conspiracy charge on file. In December 2018, Gill used a parliamentary speech to defend TV channels 112 Ukraine and NewsOne which he argued were being treated badly by the Ukrainian state.
They emerged after Gill was stopped at Manchester Airport on 13 September 2021 under the Counter Terrorism and Border Security Act 2019. Those channels were reportedly linked to Viktor Medvedchuk, a man with close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin, and were taken off air in 2021.
Peter Wright KC, speaking for Gill, told, the court: "It is recognised that it is inevitable that the defendant will receive an immediate sentencing to prison." Mr Medvedhuck is a former pro-Russian politician who, at the start of the full-scale invasion was arrested in Ukraine.
Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb told the court: "This is a serious matter." He was later exchanged with Russia in a prisoner swap and his daughter's godfather is Mr Putin.
She said Nathan Gill had "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." Gill gave two contributions in favour of the channels in December 2018 and March 2019 and, in the latter, accused the Ukrainians of putting "undue pressure" on the TV channels.
She added that he had pleaded guilty on the "full facts" as disclosed by the Crown. In other instances Gill appeared on 112 Ukraine itself – in one case to speak in support of Mr Medvedchuk who faced criminal proceedings for high treason.
Gill also arranged MEPs to speak to 112 Ukraine and arranged to host a presentation with Mr Medvedchuk in exchange for bribes.
Gill admitted eight counts of bribery but denied one charge of conspiracy to commit briberyGill admitted eight counts of bribery but denied one charge of conspiracy to commit bribery
Cdr Dominic Murphy, head of the Met's Counter Terrorism Command, which led the investigation, said the team uncovered an elected MEP was "taking payments to peddle narratives" that would have had the effect of being beneficial towards Russian interests. Gill's activities emerged in WhatsApp messages on his phone after he was stopped at Manchester Airport on September 13 2021 under counter-terrorism laws.
"The strength of the case put together by our investigation team working with the prosecutors has led to Gill pleading guilty to these offences today," he said. In court on Friday, prosecutor Mark Heywood KC said the 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".
"This case goes to the heart of our democratic values and as we've shown here, we will not hesitate to investigate and disrupt anyone seeking to harm or undermine these values and our national security." 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".
Counter-terrorism detectives also seized devices from Gill's home and investigators matched WhatsApp messages with statements Gill made in support of pro-Russia media being present in Ukraine.
Some of the statements appeared in Ukrainian media.
Mr Heywood said the guilty pleas were "satisfactory" because the bribery charges reflected the criminal activities and agreed the conspiracy charge could lie on file.
Peter Wright KC, defending, acknowledged Gill was facing a substantial jail sentence, but asked for bail for the married father-of-five before his next hearing.
He told the court: "It is recognised that it is inevitable that the defendant will receive an immediate sentencing to prison."
Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb told the court: "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."
Dominic Murphy, head of the Met's counter terrorism command, which led the investigation, said Gill was "taking payments to peddle narratives" that would have had the effect of being beneficial towards Russian interests.
He added: "This case goes to the heart of our democratic values and as we've shown here, we will not hesitate to investigate and disrupt anyone seeking to harm or undermine these values and our national security."
Who is Nathan Gill?Who is Nathan Gill?
Nathan Gill served as a UKIP and Brexit Party MEP between 2014 and 2020, and was leader of UKIP Wales between 2014 and 2016. Nathan Gill was a prominent figure in the pro-Brexit right wing of Welsh politics in the 2010s.
He then served leader of Reform UK Wales between March and May 2021, leading the party's Senedd/Welsh Parliament election campaign. He served as a UKIP, and later Brexit Party, MEP between 2014 and 2020 and was leader of UKIP Wales between 2014 and 2016.
However he is no longer a member of the party. He was leader of Reform UK Wales between March and May 2021, leading the party's Senedd/Welsh Parliament election campaign but is no longer a member of the party.
Llyr Powell, Reform UK's candidate for the Caerphilly Senedd by-election in October, worked for Gill prior to the offences taking place.
Reform said Powell worked for Gill until December 2017.
Welsh Labour said: "We thought that Nigel Farage would put his own interests before Wales, but now it turns out he'll put Russian interests before Wales too.
"With Reform Caerphilly candidate Llyr Powell a former employee of Nathan Gill's, the people of Caerphilly have a right to know – what did he know about this case?"
Reform UK said: "This is pure desperation from a Welsh Labour Party that is being rejected by the public and floundering in the polls. This sort of gutter politics has no place in Wales."
The other candidates for the by-election are:
Conservatives - Gareth Potter
Green Party - Gareth Hughes
Gwlad - Anthony Cook
Labour - Richard Tunnicliffe
Plaid Cymru - Lindsay Whittle
UKIP - Roger Quilliam
Welsh Liberal Democrats - Steve Aicheler
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