The former leader of Reform UK in Wales has appeared in court accused of accepting bribes in exchange for making favourable statements about Russia in the European Parliament.

Nathan Gill is charged with eight counts of bribery and one count of conspiracy to commit bribery.

Westminster Magistrates’ Court heard allegations he made statements in the European Parliament and in opinion pieces to news outlets, such as 112 Ukraine, which were “supportive of a particular narrative” which would “benefit Russia regarding events in Ukraine”.

During Monday’s hearing, the 51-year-old spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth and address with no pleas being entered to the charges.

The defendant is alleged to have been tasked by Oleg Voloshyn on at least eight occasions to make specific statements in return for money.

A spokesperson for Reform Wales said Mr Gill “is not a member of Reform UK”.

Mr Gill was stopped at Manchester Airport on September 13 2021 under the Counter Terrorism and Border Security Act 2019, the court also heard.

He was an MEP for almost six years and briefly represented north Wales in the Welsh Parliament.

Mr Gill was first elected as a UKIP MEP in 2014 and joined the National Assembly, as it was then called, in 2016.

He was an Assembly Member for just over a year, before he was replaced by Mandy Jones in December 2017.

He served as UKIP’s leader for Wales and was briefly an independent before joining Reform’s predecessor organisation, the Brexit Party, in 2019.

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

It is not clear precisely when Gill ceased being leader of Reform UK Wales, but the job has not existed for some time.

The Crown Prosecution Service said charges were authorised against Mr Voloshyn, but he is not in the jurisdiction.

Mr Gill, of Anglesey, was granted bail on the condition that he surrender his passport, is not to obtain international travel documents and not to contact Mr Voloshyn.

He is due to appear at the Old Bailey on 14 March.