Binance CEO Richard Teng is calling on the US government to intervene in the case of Tigran Gambaryan, a US citizen and Binance employee, who has been detained in Nigeria since February.
In an Aug. 27 statement marking six months of Gambaryan’s detention, Teng urged the US to classify the Nigerian government-held executive as being an “unlawfully detained” citizen abroad, citing substantial grounds for such action.
According to Teng:
“It is my sincere hope that the American government and political apparatus can exert its political will and muscle to bring Tigran home soon, so that he can get adequate treatment and be reunited with his family and loved ones.”
Teng further revealed that Gambaryan was recently denied access to his US consulate representative.
Initially, both Gambaryan and Nadeem Anjarwalla, Binance’s regional manager for Africa, were detained in Abuja after voluntarily traveling to Nigeria’s capital at the government’s invitation.
However, the escape of Anjarwalla, a British-Kenyan national, prompted authorities to move Gambaryan to Kuje prison, where he faced charges of money laundering and tax evasion.
Although the tax evasion charges have been dropped, Gambaryan continues to face accusations of money laundering. His trial is set for Sept. 2, and he has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Health condition
Since his detainment in February, Gambaryan’s health has worsened, and he is believed to have contracted malaria, which, without proper treatment, has led to double pneumonia and a tonsil infection.
Teng confirmed that Gambaryan is in severe pain and that he is unable to walk due to a herniated disc. Despite court orders and pleas for humane treatment, Nigerian authorities have denied him adequate medical care, including basic necessities like a wheelchair, the Binance CEO added.
Due to this health condition, Teng has called on the Nigerian government to release Gambaryan on humanitarian grounds, allowing him to return to the US for necessary medical treatment and recovery.
The Binance CEO stated:
” I appeal once again for the Nigerian government to allow him to go home to his family on humanitarian grounds so that he can seek the appropriate medical treatment in the US, recover and get back to the healthy, active life he previously had.”
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