The detention of Tigran Gambaryan, a high-ranking executive at Binance, by Nigerian authorities has raised major concerns among a group of U.S. lawmakers. They have called on President Joe Biden to intervene in what they describe as a hostage crisis. Gambaryan has been held for nearly three months, with his health deteriorating during his time in detention.
Led by House Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Michael McCaul and 11 other congressional leaders, the lawmakers demanded immediate action to secure Gambaryan’s release. They argue that the Nigerian government is using him as leverage against Binance and that his detention is wrongful under the “Robert Levinson Hostage Recovery and Hostage-Taking Accountability Act.”
The charges against Gambaryan have been deemed baseless by the lawmakers, who see them as a coercion tactic by the Nigerian government to extort Binance. Despite a judge’s order for proper medical treatment, Gambaryan has not received adequate healthcare while in detention.
Gambaryan’s family has expressed grave concern for his well-being and has emphasized the urgent need for U.S. intervention in the matter. They fear that his health will continue to deteriorate if he is not released soon.
Gambaryan’s trip to Nigeria in February, at the invitation of the Nigerian government, quickly turned hostile during high-level discussions regarding Binance’s compliance issues. He was detained by Nigerian authorities, confined to his hotel room, and later moved to a government-owned residence known as the “Guest House.”
After being held without the ability to contact his family, attorneys, or U.S. officials for five days, Gambaryan was charged with several crimes and transferred to Kuje Prison. This prison is notorious for its harsh conditions, which pose a serious threat to Gambaryan’s well-being.
The situation facing Tigran Gambaryan is dire, and immediate action is needed to secure his release from Nigerian authorities. The unjust detention of a U.S. citizen and former IRS special agent is a clear violation of his rights and demands intervention from the highest levels of the U.S. government. It is imperative that President Joe Biden and other officials take swift action to ensure that Gambaryan is released and provided with the necessary medical care and support he urgently requires.
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