A group of U.S. politicians has reached out to President Joe Biden and the hostage affairs unit in a bid to secure the release of Binance employee Tigran Gambaryan, who has been detained in Nigeria for over three months on charges of money laundering and tax evasion.
In a letter dated June 4 and addressed to President Biden, Secretary Antony Blinken, and Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs Roger D. Carstens, 12 U.S. politicians expressed their concerns about Gambaryan’s situation. They emphasized that he is being held unjustly by the Nigerian government and urged for immediate action to be taken before the situation escalates.
The politicians specifically requested that the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs intervene in Gambaryan’s case, as stated in the letter shared with Cointelegraph by Congressman Michael McCaul, one of the signatories.
According to the letter, Gambaryan has been charged with what the politicians described as “baseless” crimes, including money laundering and tax evasion, which they believe are part of a scheme by Nigerian authorities to pressure Binance.
McCaul emphasized the need for the Nigerian government to release Gambaryan promptly, stating that he has committed no wrongdoing and should be reunited with his family.
Gambaryan, who serves as the head of financial crime compliance at the cryptocurrency exchange, traveled to Nigeria on Feb. 26 at the invitation of the Nigerian government to address compliance issues related to Binance’s operations in the country.
After two meetings that reportedly started professionally but turned confrontational, Nigerian authorities detained Gambaryan. He is currently being held in the Kuje Prison, known for its harsh conditions, where he has been battling for his freedom in challenging circumstances.
Despite testing positive for malaria, Gambaryan has not received the court-ordered treatment at a private hospital, as detailed by the U.S. politicians.
On May 18, Gambaryan was denied bail, and he failed to appear at a scheduled court hearing on May 22, leaving the court, prosecutors, and defense team unaware of his whereabouts. When he eventually reappeared the next day, his physical condition had significantly deteriorated, the politicians reported.
Furthermore, Gambaryan has been denied private consultations with his legal team without the presence of Nigerian authorities and armed guards.
Prior to his role at Binance, Gambaryan served as a federal agent and worked at the Internal Revenue Service for a decade.
In light of these developments, the U.S. politicians are calling for urgent action to ensure Gambaryan’s well-being and secure his release from detention in Nigeria.