The politician from the party of anti-EU parliamentarian Nigel Farage hails from Wales and had already made a full confession in court. Gill was convicted by the Old Bailey in London.
The court stated that his actions not only damaged his own credibility but also harmed the broader democratic processes in which he held an official role.
With the pronounced verdict against him, the case marks one of the harshest sentences for political bribery in recent British jurisprudence, with the court emphasizing the significance of Gill’s public office in judging his actions.
Gill admitted to eight instances of bribery between December 2018 and July 2019. During that period, according to the court, he received tens of thousands of euros or British pounds to make pro-Russian statements in parliament and in media appearances.
The money came from Ukrainian politician Oleg Voloshyn. He was described by the judge as an important link between Gill and Moscow. According to the court, Voloshyn also provided scripts for statements that Gill then publicly delivered.
Gill used the payments to deliver speeches criticizing the situation in Ukraine and questioning the state of democracy there. The court found that his remarks were then actively used to support the pro-Russian perspective.
The judge concluded that Gill severely abused his position as an elected representative. At the time, Gill had been politically active for some time within eurosceptic parties. He was a politician for UKIP, later within the Brexit Party, and ultimately leader of Reform UK in Wales.
The case against Gill focused solely on his actions as an elected politician in EU media appearances. Two articles describe how, in exchange for payments, he agreed to provide statements, make TV appearances, and intervene in parliament in ways that aligned with the message of his client.