As U.S. diplomatic efforts to secure Tigran Gambaryan’s release from prison in Nigeria worsen, the detained Binance executive faces worsening health conditions.
According to a report published by The New York Times on Thursday, the United States is pressuring the Nigerian government to free detained Binance executive Tigran Gambaryan.
U.S. Presses Nigeria to Release Imprisoned Binance Employee – Diplomats are calling for the release of Tigran Gambaryan, an employee of the crypto exchange who was arrested in February. via @nytimes https://t.co/vBmSkEDafp
— Olav Mitchell Underdal (@omunderdal) September 12, 2024
Diplomatic ties between the two nations have been strained as a result of Gambaryan’s detention since February on suspicion of money laundering.
U.S. Diplomatic Pressure on Nigeria Over Tigran Gambaryan Intensifies
According to the report, two anonymous State Department officials stated that Gambaryan’s detention is a “significant factor” in the current state of U.S.-Nigeria diplomatic relations.
During conversations with Nigerian officials, both Secretary of State Anthony J. Blinken and the American ambassador to Nigeria have discreetly pushed for Gambaryan’s release.
Accused of money laundering, the chief of crypto compliance, who was well-known at Binance for spearheading regulatory initiatives, was placed under arrest in February.
Concerns have been raised concerning Gambaryan’s limited decision-making authority within the company and Nigeria’s handling of the case following his arrest.
Tigran Gambaryan’s Deteriorating Health in Nigerian Detention
Nigeria’s worries about Binance’s business activities in the nation have raised doubts about the legality of his arrest.
During their June visit to the detained crypto employee at Kuje prison near Abuja, U.S. Representatives French Hill (R-AR) and Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA) discovered that Gambaryan was not in good health.
Yesterday, @RepHoulahan and I visited with US citizen Tigran Gambaryan in Kuje Prison in Nigeria. We found him suffering from the conditions there, as he has malaria and double pneumonia, and he reports that he has lost significant weight. Even worse, he's being denied access to… pic.twitter.com/OKEHMXxuF4
— French Hill (@RepFrenchHill) June 20, 2024
In a statement at the time, Hill stated, “We found him suffering from the conditions there, as he has double pneumonia and malaria, and he reports that he has lost significant weight.” “To make matters worse, he is not getting enough medical care.”
Hill recently responded to a troubling video that appeared to show Gambaryan sobbing during an earlier this month court appearance. In response to the video, Hill posted to X, saying, “Tigran’s condition has significantly worsened, and immediate action is needed for his release.”
In the video, Gambaryan is seen struggling to walk due to an untreated herniated disc, and at one point, he tearfully cried out, “Why couldn’t I use a goddamn wheelchair? This is a show. I’m a f-cking innocent person. Why are you doing this to me?”
Binance Calls for Gambaryan’s Release
For humanitarian reasons, Binance has been working to secure the release of the chief of crypto compliance.
“We are extremely distressed by the video of Tigran in court yesterday,” a spokesperson for the crypto exchange said. “This video is just a snapshot of Tigran’s current reality. His health is rapidly declining, and we are deeply concerned about the long-term consequences of this unjust detention.”
The spokesperson continued, “Nigeria does not need to keep Tigran in order for us to settle any alleged past issues. We continue to urge the Government of Nigeria to allow Tigran to return home so we can resolve these matters and continue our engagements.”