Pressure on Tinubu & Biden over Release of Binance's Tigran Gambaryan

 

In a significant development, members of the U.S. Congress, Rich McCormick and French Hill, have introduced a resolution urging Presidents Joe Biden and Bola Tinubu to secure the immediate release of Tigran Gambaryan, a detained Binance official. As the pressure intensifies, Congress is calling on the White House to mobilize all available resources to facilitate Gambaryan's freedom.

The resolution, which has been published on the U.S. Congress website, explicitly states, "The government of Nigeria must immediately release Tigran Gambaryan from imprisonment." It further emphasizes the need for the U.S. government to utilize all resources at its disposal to secure Gambaryan's release and to raise his case in all interactions with the Nigerian government. Additionally, the lawmakers demand that Gambaryan be formally declared a "U.S. citizen wrongfully detained by a foreign government" under Section 302(a) of the Robert Levinson Hostage Recovery and Hostage-Taking Accountability Act.

Yuki Gambaryan, the wife of the detained Binance official, has expressed grave concern over her husband's deteriorating health. In a statement, she said, "I am deeply concerned about my husband's declining health. I appreciate Congressional focus on obtaining Tigran's immediate release from custody in Nigeria and Representative McCormick's continued attention to Tigran's plight. I hope the US government's involvement will expedite the process of getting him released."

The saga began when Gambaryan and his colleague Nadeem Anjarwalla were detained on February 26 after visiting Nigeria on an official invitation from National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu. The Nigerian authorities have accused Binance of aiding currency speculators in their efforts to undermine the Nigerian naira. While Anjarwalla managed to escape detention and fled the country in March, Gambaryan remains in custody, despite his deteriorating health and the growing global concern surrounding his case.

Some U.S. lawmakers have gone as far as accusing the Nigerian government of abducting and holding Gambaryan hostage to extort his employer, Binance. They argue that the charges against Gambaryan are baseless and merely serve as a coercion tactic by the Nigerian government to extort Binance. These lawmakers have written to President Biden, urging him to take decisive action to secure Gambaryan's release from Nigerian prison.

Gambaryan's health has been a primary concern, as reports indicate that he has contracted malaria while in jail. U.S. lawmakers have expressed their deep concerns about his well-being and have called for immediate action to ensure his release and receive the necessary medical attention.

Binance CEO Richard Teng has been vocal about the situation, calling for Gambaryan's freedom and denouncing the behavior of Nigeria's rulers. Teng stressed that Gambaryan is an innocent, mid-level employee and a former U.S. federal agent who has been unjustly detained. Binance has demanded the immediate release of Gambaryan, emphasizing that he has been a helpful professional and does not have any decision-making power within the company.

It is important to note that Gambaryan's imprisonment reflects a worrying trend of hostage-taking laws, where workers from various companies can be held prisoners as leverage. The growing international pressure on the Nigerian government highlights the need for a fair and transparent resolution to this case.

the pressure is mounting on Presidents Joe Biden and Bola Tinubu to secure the release of Tigran Gambaryan, a detained Binance official. The introduction of the resolution by U.S. lawmakers and the concerns raised by Gambaryan's wife and Binance CEO have drawn global attention to his plight. The situation remains ongoing, and efforts are being made to resolve the issue and ensure Gambaryan's well-being.