A group of 12 US politicians has urged President Biden and his administration to facilitate the release of Tigran Gambaryan, a Binance executive detained in Nigeria.
Gatekeepers News reports that in a letter to President Biden, Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, and Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs Roger D. Carstens, the politicians claimed that Gambaryan’s detention is wrongful and motivated by extortion.
The politicians, all members of Congress, argued that the charges against Gambaryan, including money laundering and tax evasion, are baseless. They also expressed concern over his deteriorating health, citing a positive malaria test and inadequate treatment.
The letter highlighted the harsh conditions of the Kuje prison, where Gambaryan is being held, and the excessive treatment he has received, including being denied access to his legal team without government officials and armed guards present.
Gambaryan, a US citizen and head of financial crime compliance at Binance, was detained after traveling to Nigeria to address compliance issues.
His colleague, Nardeem Anjarwalla, managed to escape to Kenya with a second passport. The Nigerian government, in collaboration with INTERPOL, is seeking his extradition.
The US politicians’ letter urged immediate action to prevent a further worsening of the situation.
