A group of U.S. lawmakers, spearheaded by House Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Michael McCaul (R-Texas), has urgently called on President Joe Biden to intervene in the detention of Tigran Gambaryan, a senior executive at Binance. Gambaryan has been held by Nigerian authorities for nearly three months, and the situation is escalating into what the lawmakers are describing as a hostage crisis. The lawmakers, including 11 congressional leaders, are demanding immediate action to secure Gambaryan’s release.
In a compelling letter to President Biden, the lawmakers revealed disturbing details about Gambaryan’s detention. According to the letter, the Nigerian government has openly admitted in court that Gambaryan is being used as leverage against Binance. His legal representation has faced severe restrictions, with government officials and armed guards monitoring his meetings. Furthermore, Gambaryan’s health has significantly deteriorated during his detention, leading to a collapse in court on May 24 and a subsequent positive test for malaria. Despite a judge’s order for proper medical treatment, the Nigerian authorities have failed to provide adequate healthcare for Gambaryan.
“The charges against Mr. Gambaryan are baseless and constitute a coercion tactic by the Nigerian government to extort his employer, Binance,” the lawmakers asserted in their letter to President Biden. They argue that Gambaryan’s detention falls under the “Robert Levinson Hostage Recovery and Hostage-Taking Accountability Act,” qualifying as wrongful detainment. The lawmakers emphasized that Gambaryan, as a U.S. citizen, is being unjustly held by the Nigerian government.
Adding to the urgency of the situation, Gambaryan’s family has expressed grave concerns about his well-being, underscoring the critical need for U.S. intervention. The Nigerian authorities have accused Gambaryan and Binance of money laundering and tax evasion. Notably, another Binance executive, Nadeem Anjarwalla, was also detained but managed to escape. Gambaryan’s trip to Nigeria on February 26, initially intended for high-level discussions on compliance issues, took a dark turn when he was unexpectedly detained by Nigerian authorities.
After being confined to a government-owned residence known as the “Guest House” and later transferred to Kuje Prison, Gambaryan endured harsh conditions in detention. Despite his significant contributions as a former IRS special agent specializing in cyber investigations leading to the seizure of billions in illicit funds, Gambaryan finds himself in a distressing situation. The Nigerian authorities continued to hold him without a legal basis even after an initial court order expired, further complicating his plight.
President Biden’s intervention has become imperative to secure the release of Tigran Gambaryan and address the alarming circumstances surrounding his detainment. The U.S. government, with the support of concerned lawmakers, must act swiftly to ensure the well-being and rights of one of its citizens are respected, bringing an end to what is unfolding as a deeply troubling hostage situation in Nigeria.