Former Welsh Reform leader jailed for pro-Russia bribery

[mwai_chat context=”Let’s have a discussion about this article:nn3 hours agoShareSaveDavid Deans,Wales political reporter and Ben Summer,BBC Wales InvestigatesShareSaveJames 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, is thought to have received up to £40,000 to help 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 a “close friend” of Vladimir Putin – Viktor Medvedchuk, 71, a former oligarch who was the source of the requests and the cash.The Metropolitan Police said their own investigations are continuing into “whether any other individuals have committed offences”. Gill is the first politician to be jailed under the Bribery Act.Reform UK said it was glad justice was served, calling his actions “reprehensible, treasonous and unforgivable”.Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer accused Gill of “undermining our interests as a country” and called on Reform leader Nigel Farage to investigate what other links the party had with Russia.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.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 return for money he gave two TV interviews to 112 Ukraine in support of Medvedchuk, a pro-Russian Ukrainian politician who faced treason proceedings at the time.Medvedchuk was arrested by Ukrainian authorities at the start of the 2022 Russian full-scale invasion, and was later swapped with Moscow in a prisoner exchange.Medvedchuk was connected to two TV channels – 112 and NewsOne – which in 2018 and 2019 were under threat of closure by the Ukrainian authorities.Gill gave two speeches defending the channels in the European Parliament, both on request from Voloshyn, whose wife was a presenter on 112 Ukraine.Both channels were eventually 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.Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb told the court there was no evidence they knew of Gill’s financial motivation.Police have said there was no evidence Gill was paying others.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.”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”, promising a “small sack of paper gifts”.In one set of messages, Voloshyn offered to bring $13,000 USD (£9,936) to him, as well as €4,000 (£3,516) for the peace plan.PABy December 2018, Mr Heywood said messages indicated there was already a “close relationship between the two men”.In her sentencing remarks, Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb said there was “scant personal mitigation”.”The enlisting of fellow representatives into this activity compounds the wrongdoing, undermining the mutual trust essential to the proper functioning of democratic institutions,” she said.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.Gill was stopped and detained at the airport under counter-terrorism laws. His phone was searched and found to contain messages to Voloshyn.PAVoloshyn 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.”He 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 hea …nnDiscussion:nn” ai_name=”RocketNews AI: ” start_sentence=”Can I tell you more about this article?” text_input_placeholder=”Type ‘Yes'”]