Reform UK's former Wales leader to stand trial over Russia-linked bribes

The erstwhile person of Reform UK successful Wales volition basal proceedings adjacent year, accused of accepting bribes to marque statements successful the European Parliament that would payment Russia.

Nathan Gill, 51, from Llangefni connected Anglesey, is charged with 8 counts of bribery and 1 number of conspiracy to perpetrate bribery.

At a proceeding successful the Old Bailey successful London connected Friday, defence barrister Clare Ashcroft indicated that the erstwhile Wales MEP intended to participate not blameworthy pleas.

A proceedings day of 29 June 2026 was set.

The tribunal antecedently heard Mr Gill, who was a UKIP and aboriginal a Brexit Party MEP betwixt 2014 and 2020, was alleged to person conspired with erstwhile Ukrainian person Oleg Voloshyn betwixt 1 January 2018 and 1 February 2020.

Mr Gill stood successful the dock and spoke lone to corroborate his sanction and day of birth.

He was alleged to person been tasked by Mr Voloshyn connected astatine slightest 8 occasions to marque circumstantial statements successful instrumentality for money.

Mr Voloshyn, a co-defendant successful the case, is simply a erstwhile person from the pro-Russian Opposition Platform for Life party. He is not thought to beryllium successful the UK.

An earlier tribunal proceeding heard the statements, made successful the European Parliament and successful sentiment pieces to quality outlets specified arsenic 112 Ukraine, were "supportive of a peculiar narrative" which would "benefit Russian regarding events successful Ukraine".

The February proceeding was told that Mr Gill was stopped astatine Manchester Airport connected 13 September 2021 nether anti-terror legislation.

That proceeding was told his mobile telephone was seized and grounds was recovered that constabulary accidental suggested helium was successful a nonrecreational narration with Mr Voloshyn and had agreed to "receive oregon judge monies successful instrumentality for him performing activities arsenic an MEP".

On Friday Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb acceptable a proceedings day of 29 June 2026, and Mr Gill is acceptable to look successful tribunal adjacent connected the 18 July this year.

"Your proceedings is not going to hap immediately," the justice told Mr Gill.

"There's a grade of mentation that needs to instrumentality place."

The justice released Mr Gill connected conditional bail and said helium should not marque interaction with Mr Voloshyn and not get planetary question documents.

Mr Gill confirmed helium handed his passport to constabulary aft the erstwhile proceeding successful February.

Mr Gill was archetypal elected arsenic a UKIP MEP successful 2014 and joined the National Assembly of Wales, arsenic it was past called, successful 2016.

He was an Assembly Member for conscionable implicit a year, earlier helium was replaced by Mandy Jones successful December 2017.

He served arsenic UKIP's person for Wales and was concisely an autarkic earlier joining Reform's predecessor organisation, the Brexit Party, successful 2019.

The northbound Wales person led Reform's 2021 Welsh Parliament predetermination campaign.

It is not wide precisely erstwhile Mr Gill ceased being person of Reform UK Wales, but the occupation has not existed for immoderate time.

Reform has said helium is nary longer a member.