Former UK MEP Nathan Gill Pleads Guilty to Russia-linked Bribery Charges

Nathan Gill, the former leader of Reform UK in Wales and ex-MEP for the UK Independence Party and Brexit Party, has pleaded guilty to eight counts of bribery related to statements supporting Russia made during his tenure in the European Parliament. Between December 2018 and July 2019, Gill accepted money to promote narratives benefiting Russia regarding events in Ukraine, including through speeches in Parliament and opinion pieces for outlets like 112 Ukraine. He was directed by Ukrainian national Oleg Voloshyn, a former pro-Russian politician, to make these statements in exchange for financial gain. Gill denied a separate charge of conspiracy to commit bribery, which alleged collusion with Voloshyn and others to accept cash payments improperly while holding elected office. The case emerged after Gill was stopped under counter-terrorism laws at Manchester Airport in 2021, and he faces sentencing following guilty pleas deemed satisfactory by prosecutors given the seriousness of the offenses. Gill no longer holds political office and is no longer a member of Reform UK.