Overview
- Gill, 52, was sentenced at the Old Bailey after pleading guilty to eight bribery counts for offences between December 2018 and July 2019.
- Prosecutors said he took around £40,000 to table motions, deliver speeches and secure media access that advanced Russian narratives on Ukraine.
- Investigators found he delivered near verbatim scripts and gave paid commentary to outlets including 112 Ukraine, according to court evidence.
- The case was uncovered after a Manchester Airport stop in September 2021, with seized WhatsApp messages referencing coded payments and assistance from the FBI in attributing communications.
- Messages showed efforts to involve other MEPs, and police say inquiries continue; the CPS condemned the conduct as a serious breach of democratic trust, and Reform UK noted Gill is no longer a member with Nigel Farage not under investigation.