A group of U.S. lawmakers, led by House Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Michael McCaul, has urgently called on President Joe Biden to intervene in the detention of Tigran Gambaryan, a high-ranking executive at Binance, who has been held by Nigerian authorities for almost three months. The lawmakers have labeled the situation as a hostage crisis, demanding immediate action to secure Gambaryan’s release.
Hostage Tactics
The lawmakers stated in their letter that the Nigerian government openly admitted in court that Gambaryan is being used as leverage against Binance. Gambaryan’s legal representation has faced restrictions, with meetings closely monitored by government officials and armed guards. His health has also deteriorated during detention, with reports of him collapsing in court and testing positive for malaria. Despite a judge’s order for proper medical treatment, Gambaryan has not received adequate healthcare.
The lawmakers assert that the charges against Gambaryan are baseless and are merely a coercion tactic by the Nigerian government to extort his employer, Binance. They argue that his detention qualifies as a wrongful detainment under the “Robert Levinson Hostage Recovery and Hostage-Taking Accountability Act.” The lawmakers emphasize that Gambaryan, a U.S. citizen, is being wrongfully detained by the Government of Nigeria.
Gambaryan’s family has expressed deep concern for his well-being, highlighting the urgent need for U.S. intervention in his case. The situation has escalated with allegations of money laundering and tax evasion against Binance and Gambaryan by Nigerian authorities. Another Binance executive, Nadeem Anjarwalla, who was also detained, managed to escape the situation.
Detention Details
The letter from the lawmakers provided a timeline of Gambaryan’s detention, starting from his trip to Nigeria on February 26 for high-level discussions regarding Binance’s compliance. What started as professional interactions turned hostile, leading to Gambaryan’s detainment by Nigerian authorities. He was confined to a government-owned residence known as the “Guest House” after being initially held in his hotel room by armed guards. Gambaryan was later charged as a surrogate for Binance and transferred to the harsh conditions of Kuje Prison.
Gambaryan, a U.S. citizen and former IRS special agent, has a history of playing a vital role in cyber investigations that resulted in the seizure of significant amounts of illicit funds. He now heads Financial Crime Compliance at Binance, further complicating his predicament in Nigeria.
The lawmakers’ urgent call for President Biden to intervene in Tigran Gambaryan’s detention paints a grim picture of a U.S. citizen being wrongfully held in Nigeria. The allegations of baseless charges, deteriorating health, and the use of hostage tactics by Nigerian authorities highlight the urgent need for immediate action to secure Gambaryan’s release. The involvement of high-ranking congressional leaders signifies the seriousness of the situation and the demand for justice to be served promptly.
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