Claim: Nathan Gill, a former Farage ally, has pleaded guilty to Russian-linked bribery offences

Update: Nathan Gill has since pleaded guilty to eight bribery offences and was sentenced in November 2025 to ten and a half years in prison. You can read our full report on the sentencing here: Former Reform UK Wales Leader Nathan Gill Sentenced.

Summary

Nathan Gill, a former ally of Nigel Farage and once a senior figure in Reform UK, has pleaded guilty to eight counts of bribery connected to a Russian-linked influence operation. The offences took place between December 2018 and July 2019 when Gill served as a Member of the European Parliament representing Wales.

According to the Metropolitan Police Counter Terrorism Command, Gill accepted financial advantages from a pro-Kremlin Ukrainian intermediary in exchange for promoting messages favourable to Russia in parliamentary questions and media commentary. These payments were intended to advance Russian interests regarding events in Ukraine.

Gill admitted all charges at the Old Bailey in September 2025. The Metropolitan Police described the case as conduct that struck at the heart of democratic integrity.

Farage connection

Nathan Gill’s political career has been closely linked to Nigel Farage’s parties and campaigns.

Gill was elected as a UKIP MEP in 2014 on the same slate that returned Farage to the European Parliament.
In Brussels, Gill sat in the same parliamentary group as Farage, the Europe of Freedom and Direct Democracy group, and frequently appeared alongside him in media events.
When Farage launched the Brexit Party in 2019, Gill joined immediately and campaigned with him throughout that year’s European election campaign.
After the party became Reform UK, Gill was appointed leader of its Welsh branch and became one of the few regional figures authorised to speak on the party’s behalf.

Although Gill later left the party and had no formal role when the bribery case emerged, his earlier prominence means his conviction is relevant to understanding the wider network of individuals previously aligned with Farage’s political projects.

Background of the case

Court documents and police statements show that Gill’s offences involved a series of covert payments routed through Oleg Voloshyn, a Ukrainian national with associations to pro-Kremlin political circles. Prosecutors said Gill agreed to receive these funds in return for making public statements, submitting parliamentary questions and giving interviews that echoed Russian talking points on Ukraine and sanctions.

Investigators from the Metropolitan Police Counter Terrorism Command and the Crown Prosecution Service Special Crime Division concluded that Gill’s conduct represented improper performance of his duties as an MEP. They said the offences formed part of a broader pattern of Russian attempts to cultivate sympathetic voices within European political institutions.

In court, Gill confirmed that he accepted the payments and acknowledged that the money influenced his conduct as an elected official. He expressed regret for his actions during interviews with investigators.

Why it matters

The case has drawn attention because it involves a former senior figure from a political movement led for many years by Nigel Farage. There is no evidence that Farage himself was aware of or connected to the bribery scheme. Even so, Gill’s conviction illustrates how individuals linked to populist and Eurosceptic politics have been targeted by foreign influence efforts aimed at shaping debate inside Western democracies.

The case also highlights ongoing issues of transparency and accountability in political funding. While the UK Parliament and European authorities have strengthened rules concerning foreign payments and contacts, enforcement remains inconsistent. Anti-corruption groups note that the Gill case demonstrates how covert money can still reach elected officials through intermediaries.

For observers of Farage’s political world, the episode is a reminder that party networks extend beyond the control of any single leader and that reputational risks can arise long after individuals have moved on.

Verdict

✅True. Nathan Gill, a former Farage ally and former leader of Reform UK Wales, has pleaded guilty to eight bribery offences linked to a Russian influence operation. The guilty plea and case details have been confirmed by court records and official police statements.

Source

The Guardian – “Former Reform UK leader in Wales pleads guilty to Russian-linked bribery charges”