A group of United States lawmakers has urged President Joe Biden to intervene in the case of Tigran Gambaryan, a senior executive at Binance, who has been detained by Nigerian authorities for nearly three months.
Led by House Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Michael McCaul (R-Texas) and backed by 11 other congressional leaders, the appeal demands immediate action from the Biden administration to secure Gambaryan’s release, treating the situation as a hostage crisis.
In a strongly worded letter, the lawmakers condemned the tactics employed by the Nigerian government, alleging that Gambaryan is being held as leverage against Binance. They highlighted restrictions faced by his legal team, including monitored meetings and the presence of armed guards.
Gambaryan’s health has reportedly deteriorated during his detention, with a recent incident in court where he collapsed on May 24 and subsequently tested positive for malaria. Despite a court order for proper medical care, Nigerian authorities have failed to provide adequate treatment.
“The charges against Mr. Gambaryan are baseless and amount to coercion by the Nigerian government to pressure his employer, Binance,” the lawmakers asserted, citing the “Robert Levinson Hostage Recovery and Hostage-Taking Accountability Act” in their letter.
Emphasizing Gambaryan’s status as a U.S. citizen, the lawmakers stressed that his detention is wrongful and necessitates immediate intervention by the U.S. government. Concerns have been raised by Gambaryan’s family regarding his well-being, adding urgency to the situation.
