A former leader of Reform UK in Wales and a one-time close associate of Nigel Farage has been sentenced to prison for accepting bribes from Russia while serving in the European Parliament.
Nathan Gill, aged 52, pleaded guilty to eight counts of bribery for receiving payments to deliver predetermined speeches and advocate for a pro-Russian stance on television during his time as a Member of the European Parliament. The disgraced former UKIP and Brexit Party politician took money from Oleg Voloshyn, described by the US government as a tool of the Russian security services.
Following a discovery of incriminating WhatsApp messages between Gill and Voloshyn by counter-terrorism authorities at Manchester Airport in 2021, the court sentenced him to 10-and-a-half years in prison. Judge Mrs. Justice Cheema-Grubb characterized his actions as a severe betrayal of the trust placed in him by the electorate.
The court emphasized that Gill’s misconduct jeopardized the integrity of the European Parliament, especially in its dealings with Russia, a historically adversarial state, particularly during the EU-Ukraine association agreement of 2017.
Additionally, Gill was found to have arranged meetings between fellow Brexit Party MPs and Victor Medvedchuk, an ally of Vladimir Putin, for financial gain.
In response to the scandal, Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey labeled Gill a traitor and called for a thorough investigation into Russian interference in British politics. Meanwhile, Armed Forces Minister Al Carns demanded that Reform UK conduct a comprehensive inquiry into the matter, condemning Gill’s actions as disgraceful.
During the sentencing hearing, Security Minister Dan Jarvis condemned Gill for prioritizing Russian interests over those of the UK in exchange for financial incentives, emphasizing the severity of the betrayal.
A spokesperson for Reform UK denounced Gill’s actions as treacherous and welcomed the verdict, while Peter Wright KC, Gill’s defense counsel, acknowledged the gravity of his client’s offenses and the breach of trust involved.
Gill’s unethical behavior included defending TV channels associated with Vladimir Putin’s ally Viktor Medvedchuk during parliamentary speeches and facilitating MEP interactions with pro-Russian media outlets in exchange for bribes. The court revealed that Gill’s corrupt activities surfaced through WhatsApp communications seized by authorities.
The case highlighted the importance of safeguarding democratic values against external interference, with law enforcement officials emphasizing their commitment to investigating and thwarting any attempts to undermine national security or democratic principles.