Former Welsh politician jailed for pro-Russia bribery scheme

A former Welsh politician has been sentenced to 10-and-a-half years in prison after admitting to accepting bribes in exchange for giving pro-Russia interviews and speeches.

Nathan Gill, ex-leader of the right-wing political party Reform UK, is reported to have received up to £40,000 to assist pro-Russian politicians in Ukraine, according to a report by the BBC.

Gill was serving as a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) at the time he took money from Oleg Voloshyn, 44, a figure once described by the US government as a “pawn” of Russian intelligence services.

The case was heard at the Old Bailey, the central criminal court of England and Wales, where Gill was accused of abusing his position and eroding “public confidence in democracy.”

British authorities believe that Voloshyn acted on behalf of Viktor Medvedchuk, a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Medvedchuk, a former Ukrainian politician and oligarch, previously ran a pro-Russia political party and was considered Putin’s closest ally in Ukraine, with the Russian president serving as godfather to his daughter.

Medvedchuk was arrested in April 2022 after escaping house arrest on treason charges shortly after Russia invaded Ukraine. He was later exchanged in a high-profile prisoner swap in September 2022 and released to Russian authorities, remaining in exile since.

Police said Gill was bribed to defend two Ukrainian TV channels linked to Medvedchuk—112 Ukraine and NewsOne—and to promote Medvedchuk while he faced treason charges in Kyiv. Officers recovered €5,000 and $5,000 in cash from a property linked to Gill and believe he may have received as much as £40,000. The investigation was triggered by intelligence tip-offs, including messages retrieved by the FBI from Voloshyn’s phone.

The Metropolitan Police said their inquiries are ongoing to determine “whether any other individuals have committed offences.”

Gill is the first politician to be jailed under the Bribery Act. Reform UK expressed relief at the outcome, calling his actions “reprehensible, treasonous and unforgivable.”

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer condemned Gill for “undermining our interests as a country” and urged current Reform UK leader Nigel Farage to examine any other potential links between the party and Russia.

By Nazrin Sadigova