A former political leader in Wales has been sentenced to ten and a half years in prison after admitting to accepting payments in exchange for making statements supporting Russian interests while serving as a Member of the European Parliament.
The individual, who previously led a political party’s operations in Wales, pleaded guilty to multiple counts of bribery spanning from late 2018 to mid-2019. Court proceedings revealed he received at least £40,000 from an associate currently under investigation for alleged connections to Russian interests, who is now believed to be in Moscow.
According to investigators, the payments were made in exchange for public statements that aligned with Kremlin narratives regarding Ukraine during the period preceding Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022. The former politician delivered these statements both within the European Parliament and on a Ukrainian television channel known for its pro-Russian stance.
Law enforcement officials noted that while the defendant offered no explanation for his actions during his surprise guilty plea last September, investigators believe financial motivations played a significant role in his decision to accept the bribes. The case has drawn attention to foreign influence operations targeting European politicians.
