The former leader of Reform UK in Wales has pleaded guilty to bribery charges relating to statements in favour of Russia while being an elected member of the European Parliament.
Gill, 52, from Llangefni on Anglesey, admitted eight counts of bribery between 6 December 2018 and 18 July 2019, but denied one charge of conspiracy to commit bribery.
He served as a UKIP and Brexit Party MEP between 2014 and 2020, and was leader of UKIP Wales between 2014 and 2016, and then leader of Reform UK Wales between March and May 2021.
It was alleged he made statements in the European Parliament which were “supportive of a particular narrative” which would “benefit Russia regarding events in Ukraine”.
The charges stated as an elected member of the European Parliament for the constituency of Wales in the UK, he “agreed to receive financial advantage, namely money”, which constituted “the improper performance” as the holder of an elected office.
He also made these statements in opinion pieces to news outlets, such as 112 Ukraine.
The court was told he was tasked by Ukrainian Oleg Voloshyn on at least eight occasions to make specific statements in return for money.
The conspiracy to commit bribery alleged Gill conspired with Voloshyn and “others” between 1 January 2018 and 1 February 2020, and that he accepted “quantities of money in cash” which was “improper performance by him of his function or activity as the holder” of a position in the European Parliament.
Prosecutor Mark Heywood said the guilty pleas were “satisfactory” because the bribery charges reflected the criminal activities.
They emerged after Gill was stopped at Manchester Airport on 13 September 2021 under the Counter Terrorism and Border Security Act 2019.