In a letter sent to the US President, Joe Biden, the US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, and the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs Roger Carstens, on Tuesday, US lawmakers asked the US government to take immediate action to bring Binance executive Tigran Gambaryan home from detention in Nigeria.
The letter, signed by House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman, Michael McCaul (R-TX) and 15 other members of Congress, expressed grave concern for Gambaryan’s health and well-being, citing reports of “excessive and harsh treatment” during his three-month detainment. They allege Gambaryan, a US citizen, has been denied adequate medical care despite a court order for treatment.
“Mr. Gambaryan’s health and well-being are in danger, and we fear for his life. Immediate action is essential to ensure his safety and preserve his life. We must act swiftly before it is too late,” they wrote.
Gambaryan’s bail request was denied in May, with the government citing flight risk. During a subsequent court hearing, Gambaryan was absent, raising alarms about his whereabouts and condition. He reappeared in court the following day in a weakened state, reportedly collapsing due to possible malaria.
Gambaryan’s colleague, Nadeem Anjarwalla, who accompanied him to Nigeria for meetings, escaped custody in March. The detention stems from a $35 million money laundering and tax violation indictment against him and Binance in Nigeria. The letter details Gambaryan’s collapsing health during a court appearance and the prison’s alleged failure to comply with a court order for his hospitalization.
“Gambaryan is formerly a Special Agent for the U.S. IRS and has devoted his professional life to fighting financial crimes,” Binance CEO Richard Teng said, calling for his release last month.
Teng also stated that he was hired by Binance in 2021 to help the exchange build stronger compliance controls, subsequently assisting global law enforcement in freezing and seizing more than $2.2 billion worth of assets, including more than $285 million in cooperation with U.S. agencies like the FBI, DOJ and DEA.
The situation between Binance and Nigeria began in 2022 when Nigeria’s Securities and Exchange Commission issued digital asset regulations requiring permits for crypto exchanges. Binance claimed they attempted to comply but faced communication issues with Nigerian authorities.
As the Nigerian naira weakened in 2023, many citizens used Binance’s peer-to-peer platform to hedge their assets, raising concerns about its impact on exchange rates. Binance restricted such activity but still faced detentions despite assurances of friendly meetings. SEC accused Binance of operating illegally, leading to the suspension of soliciting Nigerian investors.
