Nathan Gill, 51, appeared in a London court on Monday. He did not enter a plea to eight counts of bribery and one count of conspiracy to commit bribery.

Prosecutors say Gill, a former member of the European Union legislature who also led the Reform U.K. party in Wales, was tasked by former Ukrainian politician Oleg Voloshyn on at least eight occasions to make statements in return for money.

Prosecution lawyer Richard Link said Gill made statements in the European Parliament and in opinion pieces to news outlets which were “supportive of a particular narrative” which would “benefit Russia regarding events in Ukraine.”

The offenses are alleged to have taken place between 2018 and 2020. Gill was stopped at Manchester Airport on Sept. 13, 2021 under British counterterrorism laws, and after an investigation was charged last week.

      • blakenong
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        21 hours ago

        Me: Politicians frequently accept bribes

        You: lol fUCKin SoUrCe?

        Yup.

        • then_three_more@lemmy.world
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          20 hours ago

          You said All politicians take bribes. Not lots of politicians take bribes or many or some, all.

          I think it’s quite reasonable to ask for a source to such a sweeping statement. The fact you can’t provide any evidence shows it’s just your opinion.

          • blakenong
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            20 hours ago

            You’re welcome you have your opinion. That’s what the internet is for.

            • then_three_more@lemmy.world
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              12 hours ago

              And your welcome to yours. There’s also nothing wrong with me asking for evidence when you portray your opinion as objective fact. However, you seem to have ridiculed me for doing so.

              • blakenong
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                2 hours ago

                “Source?” Welcomes asshole behavior. Adjust your approach, and you’ll find people are more willing to behave nicely and have quality conversations.

    • HellsBelle@sh.itjust.worksOP
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      2 days ago

      In this day and age someone asking for proof of a statement isn’t something you should deride, because there’s too many lies flooding the world rn.

      • blakenong
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        2 days ago

        How do you think a person could prove secret bribes? They’re secret. They get uncovered all the time, but until they do, no one knows. That’s the whole point.

        I think it’s naive of them to assume the best of a politician. The absence of a list of secret data does not make it an untrue opinion.

        • HellsBelle@sh.itjust.worksOP
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          2 days ago

          Then don’t state that every politician has accepted bribes without providing facts to support it.

          This is on you buddy, not me.

            • ThePyroPython@lemmy.world
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              1 day ago

              Yes, it’s in you to prove this fact, or this is just your cynical opinion.

              Perhaps you’re anti-democracy and have zero idea of how bad corruption can really get under an autocracy.

              • blakenong
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                21 hours ago

                It’s an opinion. It’s your opinion that it’s cynical. It’s my opinion that you’re naive and in denial if you think politicians aren’t being bribed. Bribes come in all sorts of sizes and packages.

                I’m not anti-democracy, I’m just aware that money/power corrupts most people—especially these days.