Rep. Rich McCormick has urged the US government to declare Binance executive Tigran Gambaryan a hostage if he is not released from the Nigerian government by mid-July. Nigerian courts take a recess until September from mid-July, which will leave Gambaryan locked up for longer than anticipated if his case does not conclude in a few days. He has remained arrested in Nigeria’s infamous Kuje Prison since February.
In a resolution brought to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Rep McCormick urged the US government to “utilize all resources available to secure the release of Tigran Gambaryan, and to raise the case of Tigran and press for his immediate release in all interactions with the Government of Nigeria.”
McCormick’s concerns now revolve around Gambaryan’s extended stay if not released before mid-July, which seems highly likely. “If Tigran’s case is not resolved by mid-July, he may remain in detention for an even longer undue period of time,” he expressed in the resolution.
It also stated that the Nigerian government is “wrongfully detaining Tigran Gambaryan… in order to extort Binance.” Gambaryan’s troubles began when he visited Nigeria for the second time this year in February upon invitation from the government to settle its issues with Binance revolving around money laundering and tax evasion. The negotiations turned hostile, leading to his detainment alongside another Binance executive, Nadeem Anjarwalla.
Anjarwalla managed to escape prison and Nigeria. Gambaryan was left behind and remains in Kuje Prison amidst members of the terrorist outfit Boko Haram and other notorious criminals. His health has spiraled in prison—he contracted malaria and double pneumonia. Rep. French Hill and Rep. Chrissy Houlahan visited Gambaryan in the Nigerian prison and stated that he was “suffering.”
Officials at Kuje Prison have refused to release his medical records to his lawyers or family despite the court asking them to do so.
