The disgraced Brexit Party MEP faces prison after pleading guilty to accepting cash payments from sanctioned Ukrainian politician Oleg Voloshyn to promote Kremlin narratives in the European Parliament
Nathan Gill, the former leader of Reform UK in Wales, dramatically pleaded guilty at the Old Bailey today to eight bribery charges related to accepting cash payments to make pro-Russian statements whilst serving as a Member of the European Parliament. The 52-year-old politician from Anglesey admitted to receiving financial advantages between December 6, 2018, and July 18, 2019, in exchange for promoting narratives favourable to Russia regarding the conflict in Ukraine.
The charges stated that Gill, as an elected MEP for Wales, “agreed to receive financial advantage, namely money” which constituted “the improper performance” of his duties as the holder of an elected office. Each charge carries a potential maximum sentence of ten years imprisonment under the Bribery Act 2010.
Gill denied one charge of conspiracy to commit bribery during the hearing on Friday. That charge alleged he conspired with Ukrainian politician Oleg Voloshyn and “others” between January 1, 2018, and February 1, 2020, accepting “quantities of money in cash” for improper performance of his parliamentary functions.
The Russian Connection
Westminster Magistrates’ Court previously heard that Gill was tasked by Voloshyn on at least eight separate occasions to make specific statements in return for money. Prosecutors revealed that the former UKIP and Brexit Party politician made statements in the European Parliament and penned opinion pieces for news outlets including 112 Ukraine, a now-banned pro-Russian television channel, which were “supportive of a particular narrative” that would “benefit Russia regarding events in Ukraine.
Prosecutor Mark Heywood KC told the court the guilty pleas were “satisfactory” because the bribery charges reflected the full extent of the criminal activities. The charges emerged after Metropolitan Police Counter-Terrorism Command officers stopped Gill at Manchester Airport on September 13, 2021, under the Counter Terrorism and Border Security Act 2019.
“His mobile phone was seized and evidence was found that police say suggested he was in a professional relationship with Mr Voloshyn and had agreed to receive or accept monies in return for him performing activities as an MEP,” court documents revealed.
The Ukrainian Handler
Oleg Voloshyn, 43, presents a controversial figure in Ukrainian politics. The former journalist and politician served as a spokesman for Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs from 2010 to 2013 under pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych. He later became a member of Ukraine’s parliament representing the Opposition Platform — For Life party, a pro-Russian political force led by oligarch Viktor Medvedchuk.
Voloshyn worked as a political pundit for 112 Ukraine, a television channel widely regarded as part of Medvedchuk’s media empire and banned by Ukrainian authorities in February 2021 for spreading Russian propaganda. The channel was accused by Ukrainian officials of being “quite actively and often openly used as tools of foreign propaganda in Ukraine.”
The UK government sanctioned Voloshyn in March 2022 following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. American authorities had already imposed sanctions on him in January 2022 for his alleged cooperation with Russian intelligence in planning what officials described as efforts to undermine Ukrainian democracy.
Political Career in Ruins
Gill’s political journey began with UKIP, where he rose to prominence under Nigel Farage’s leadership. During the UKIP Wales Conference on December 6, 2014, Farage announced that Gill would lead the party in Wales. He was first elected as a UKIP Member of the European Parliament in 2014, holding the seat until the UK formally left the EU in January 2020.
The businessman-turned-politician defected from UKIP to the Brexit Party on December 6, 2018 — coincidentally the same date his admitted bribery offences began. He stood unsuccessfully for the Brexit Party in Caerphilly during the 2019 general election, finishing fourth with 11.2% of the vote.
In March 2021, Gill was announced as Leader of Reform UK Wales ahead of the Senedd elections. However, after failing to secure a seat as a regional list candidate for North Wales, he resigned from the party in May 2021. Reform UK has confirmed Gill is no longer a member and declined to comment on the charges.
Pattern of Pro-Russian Activity
Nation.Cymru reported in March 2023 that Gill had held multiple meetings with pro-Russian leaders in Ukraine and Moldova that had been organised by men accused of being Kremlin agents. These revelations preceded the formal criminal charges but indicated a pattern of engagement with Russian-linked figures.
Clare Ashcroft, acting in Gill’s defence at an earlier hearing, had initially indicated her client would plead not guilty to all charges. However, today’s dramatic guilty pleas to eight counts represent a significant reversal of that position.
The Crown Prosecution Service has also authorised charges against Voloshyn, but he remains outside UK jurisdiction. In February 2023, Ukrainian authorities formally accused Voloshyn of state treason for allegedly “promoting the military-political leadership of the Russian Federation in subversive activities against Ukraine.”
Wider Implications
The case highlights concerns about foreign interference in British politics and the vulnerability of elected officials to financial inducement. Gill’s admissions confirm that whilst serving as an MEP representing Welsh constituents in Brussels, he was simultaneously accepting cash payments to advance Russian interests.
Before entering politics, Gill founded and managed Burgill Ltd with his mother in March 2004. The company provided domiciliary and home care services to Hull City Council, employing 180 staff mainly from Poland and the Philippines. The business collapsed into administration with debts of £116,000 after HSBC withdrew its borrowing facility during the 2008 financial crisis.
Gill has been granted bail on strict conditions including surrendering his passport, not obtaining any international travel documents, and having no contact with Voloshyn. He will return to the Old Bailey for sentencing at a date to be fixed.
The Metropolitan Police Counter-Terrorism Command, which led the investigation, has not commented on whether further charges may follow or if other British politicians are under investigation for similar offences.
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Image Credit:
Nathan Gill — licensed CC0 1.0 (Public Domain Dedication).
