*Pix above: Tigran Gambaryan
United States lawmakers have urged the U.S State Department to secure the release of Tigran Gambaryan, Binance’s Head of Financial Crime Compliance and a former IRS agent, who has been detained in Nigeria since February.
Gambaryan was arrested on allegations of money laundering and tax evasion, alongside his colleague, Nadeem Anjarwalla, but Nigerian authorities dropped the tax evasion charges in June. The money laundering case is still ongoing.
The U.S lawmakers are now claiming that Gambaryan’s detention has become a hostage situation, citing concerns over his deteriorating health and human rights violations.
According to family and colleagues, Gambaryan has contracted malaria and pneumonia, and his condition is worsening.
Representatives Rich McCormick and French Hill introduced a resolution to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, calling on the United States government to classify the detention of Gambaryan as a hostage situation.
Rep. Hill, who visited Gambaryan in prison last month, expressed concern about the executive’s status saying: “After visiting Tigran at Kuje Prison in Nigeria, I noted that his health is deteriorating. I am proud to join my friend and Mr. Gambaryan’s Congressman, Rep. Rich McCormick, in leading this resolution and sending a signal to the Nigerian government that he must be immediately granted a release, the remaining charges dropped, and return home to America where he belongs.”
The resolution demands the immediate release of Gambaryan, a U.S. citizen, and urges the U.S. government to declare him as “wrongfully detained by a foreign government.”
The congressmen warn that if Gambaryan’s case isn’t resolved by mid-July, his detention could be prolonged due to the court’s typical recess until September.
Over 100 federal prosecutors and agents have joined the call for Gambaryan’s release, and a petition launched by his wife is nearing 5,000 signatures. The US government has yet to comment on the matter.
Binance has denied any wrongdoing and is working to secure Gambaryan’s release.{agency}/###
