US Lawmakers Urge Biden to Secure Release of Detained Binance Exec in Nigeria

A group of US lawmakers have called on President Joe Biden to intervene in the detention of Tigran Gambaryan, a high-ranking Binance executive, who has been held by Nigerian authorities for nearly three months.

The appeal, led by House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul (R-Texas) and supported by 11 other congressional leaders, demands that the situation be treated as a hostage crisis and immediate action be taken to secure Gambarian's release.

US lawmakers condemn Nigerian government's tactics

In the letter, the lawmakers stated that the Nigerian government had publicly admitted in court that Gambarian was being used as leverage against Binance. His legal representation has faced restrictions, as meetings have been monitored by government officials and armed guards.

Gambaryan's health also deteriorated while in detention, leading to him collapsing in court on May 24, and he has since tested positive for malaria. Despite the judge's order to provide appropriate medical treatment, Nigerian authorities have failed to provide adequate health care.

🚨New: Members of the House of Representatives, including the President @RepMcCaul Follower @HouseForeignGOP I sent a message to @potos, @SecBlinken And @StateSPEHA He urged them to bring the detainees @binance Home of employee Tigran Gambaryan.

The letter stated that Gambarian had contracted malaria and was currently undergoing treatment. pic.twitter.com/XCRyS8IPUT

-Eleanor Terret (@EleanorTerrett) June 4, 2024

“The charges against Mr. Gambarian are baseless and constitute a coercive tactic by the Nigerian government to blackmail his employer, Binance,” the lawmakers asserted in their letter. They argue that Gambarian's detention is an unlawful detention under the Robert Levinson Hostage Accountability and Accountability Act.

“It is clear that Mr. Gambarian is an American citizen who has been wrongfully detained by the government of Nigeria,” the lawmakers wrote. Gambarian's family also expressed concern about his safety, stressing the urgent need for US intervention.

Nigerian authorities accuse Binance and Gambarian of money laundering and tax evasion. Meanwhile, another Binance executive, Nadeem Angarwala, who was also arrested, managed to escape.

Hostile meetings lead to illegal detention

The letter touched on Gambarian's trip to Nigeria on February 26, which was at the invitation of the Nigerian government for high-level discussions on compliance issues at Binance.

Despite initial professional interactions, the meetings turned hostile, leading to Gambarian being detained by Nigerian authorities. Armed guards detained him in his hotel room, confiscated his passport, and then transferred him to a government-owned residence known as the “Guest House.”

For five days, Gambaryan was detained without access to his family, his lawyer, or US officials. His detention was initially authorized by a court order that expired on March 12, but Nigerian authorities continued to detain him without a legal basis until April 5, when the case was adjourned for adjudication.

Gambarian was then charged with several crimes as a surrogate for his employer, Binance, and was transferred to Kuje Prison, notorious for its harsh conditions.

Gambarian, a US citizen and former IRS special agent, played a significant role in cyber investigations, resulting in the seizure of $4.725 billion in illicit funds. He now heads Binance's financial crimes compliance department.