Ex-Reform UK Wales chief Nathan Gill to face trial over Russia-linked bribery

The previous chief of Reform UK in Wales will stand trial subsequent yr, accused of accepting bribes to make statements within the European Parliament that will profit Russia.

Nathan Gill, 51, from Llangefni on Anglesey, is charged with eight counts of bribery and one depend of conspiracy to commit bribery.

At a listening to within the Previous Bailey in London on Friday, defence barrister Clare Ashcroft indicated that the previous Wales MEP supposed to enter not responsible pleas.

A trial date of 29 June 2026 was set.

The courtroom beforehand heard Mr Gill, who was a UKIP and later a Brexit Occasion MEP between 2014 and 2020, was alleged to have conspired with former Ukrainian politician Oleg Voloshyn between 1 January 2018 and 1 February 2020.

Mr Gill stood within the dock and spoke solely to verify his identify and date of beginning.

He was alleged to have been tasked by Mr Voloshyn on no less than eight events to make particular statements in return for cash.

Mr Voloshyn, a co-defendant within the case, is a former politician from the pro-Russian Opposition Platform for Life social gathering. He isn’t regarded as within the UK.

An earlier courtroom listening to heard the statements, made within the European Parliament and in opinion items to information shops equivalent to 112 Ukraine, had been “supportive of a specific narrative” which might “profit Russia concerning occasions in Ukraine”.

The February listening to was informed that Mr Gill was stopped at Manchester Airport on 13 September 2021 underneath anti-terror laws.

That listening to was informed his cell phone was seized and proof was discovered that police say urged he was in an expert relationship with Mr Voloshyn and had agreed to “obtain or settle for monies in return for him performing actions as an MEP”.

On Friday Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb set a trial date of 29 June 2026, and Mr Gill is about to seem in courtroom subsequent on the 18 July this yr.

“Your trial will not be going to occur instantly,” the choose informed Mr Gill.

“There is a diploma of preparation that should happen.”

The choose launched Mr Gill on conditional bail and mentioned he mustn’t make contact with Mr Voloshyn and never get hold of worldwide journey paperwork.

Mr Gill confirmed he handed his passport to police after the earlier listening to in February.

Mr Gill was first elected as a UKIP MEP in 2014 and joined the Nationwide Meeting of Wales, because it was then known as, in 2016.

He was an Meeting Member for simply over a yr, earlier than he was changed by Mandy Jones in December 2017.

He served as UKIP’s chief for Wales and was briefly an impartial earlier than becoming a member of Reform’s predecessor organisation, the Brexit Occasion, in 2019.

The north Wales politician led Reform’s 2021 Welsh Parliament election marketing campaign.

It’s not clear exactly when Mr Gill ceased being chief of Reform UK Wales, however the job has not existed for a while.

Reform has mentioned he’s not a member.