U.S. Politicians Urge Biden to Free Binance Employee in Nigeria

As a crypto investor with a background in compliance and familiarity with the Binance platform, I am deeply concerned about the ongoing situation with Tigran Gambaryan, the head of financial crime compliance at Binance who has been wrongfully detained in Nigeria for over three months.


Over a dozen American political figures have urged President Joe Biden and the relevant U.S. agency to intervene and secure the release of Tigran Gambaryan, an employee of Binance, who has been imprisoned in Nigeria for more than three months due to accusations of money laundering and tax evasion.

In a letter dated June 4, politically titled individuals addressed to President Biden, Secretary Antony Blinken, and Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs Roger D. Carstens, expressed their concern that Gambaryan is currently being “unjustly held” and requested prompt intervention.

The letter, which was published on Fox Business by Eleanor Terrett, conveyed a sense of dire urgency. It expressed concern for an individual’s life and stressed the importance of taking immediate action to secure their safety and prevent any harm. The call to act swiftly underscores the significance of not delaying in addressing this matter before it becomes too late.

Politicians advocate for the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs to manage Gambaryan’s situation, emphasizing that the accusations against him are unfounded and a manipulative ploy used by Nigerian officials to extract information or assets from Binance.

The head of financial crime compliance at Binance, Gambaryan, made a trip to Nigeria on February 26 upon receiving an official invitation from the Nigerian government. Their intention was to hold discussions concerning Binance’s compliance matters. Following two productive initial meetings, however, Nigerian authorities took him into custody.

I’ve been unfortunate enough to be incarcerated in Kuje Prison under less than ideal circumstances. My health has taken a turn for the worse, as evidenced by a recent positive malaria diagnosis. Regrettably, the court has declined my request for private medical treatment.

As an analyst, I would rephrase it as follows: On May 18, the court denied my request for bail, causing me to miss a scheduled court appearance on May 22. Consequently, neither the prosecution nor the defense were informed of my whereabouts during that time. When I appeared in court the following day, my health had deteriorated considerably, resulting in a collapse within the courtroom.

In the letter, it is mentioned that Gambaryan has been granted access to confer with his lawyers in the presence of Nigerian authorities and armed guards. Prior to working at Binance, Gambaryan served as a federal agent for ten years with the Internal Revenue Service.

Twelve American politicians have made an earnest plea for the liberation of Binance employee Tigran Gambaryan, who is currently being held in Nigeria. There are grave concerns about the unjust detainment of Mr. Gambaryan and the necessity of prompt intervention to safeguard his wellbeing.

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2024-06-05 07:32