The complex saga between crypto exchange Binance and the Nigerian government has intensified as members of the US Congress have called for immediate action from the Biden administration.
In a letter to the US president, lawmakers expressed concern over the health of Binance executive Tigran Gambaryan and urged the government to bring him back from his imprisonment in Nigeria.
US lawmakers urge safe return of Binance executives
On June 4, 16 members of the US Congress signed a letter urging President Biden to intervene in the case of former US federal agent Tigran Gambaryan. The executive has been detained in Nigeria for three months and his current health condition has raised alarm among members of the House.
Nigerian authorities arrested Gambaryan on February 26 alongside his colleague Nadeem Anjarwalla, who later escaped. Since then, the leader has been in detention, without access to his passport, and in supervised communication with his legal team and family.
Fragment of the letter from Congress to the Biden administration. Source: Eleanor Terrett on X
The letter states that Gambaryan’s illegal detention was marked by excessive and harsh treatment. He stresses that the accusations against the executive are “baseless and constitute a coercive tactic by the Nigerian government to extort its employer, Binance”.
In court, Nigerian authorities admitted to retaining Gambaryan as the sole trading card against the crypto exchange. On April 25, the prosecutor said that since then “The 1st defendant (Binance) has been operating virtually. The only thing we have to hold on to is this defendant (Tigran).
Binance CEO Richard Teng addressed this topic in a letter. Teng called out the Nigerian government for trying to set a dangerous precedent for all companies around the world by cracking down on Binance mid-level employees.
A call to action “before it’s too late”
US lawmakers highlighted Gambaryan’s “impressive and distinguished” record as a federal agent. Additionally, they pointed out the irony of his legacy being hailed by the government while the former federal agent is fighting for his life in a prison cell:
Mr. Gambaryan’s legacy of dedication to justice and the law continued even after he left federal office. On May 3 of this year, as Tigran fought for his life in a prison cell designed to hold ISIS fighters, the U.S. Department of Justice issued a press release announcing a historic seizure, thanking the former Special Agent Tigran for his innovative work in the investigation.
In the letter, members of Congress painted a worrying picture, explaining that the executive’s life was in danger due to lack of medical care. As reported According to Bitcoinist, Gambaryan suffered a health issue during a court hearing on May 23.
The day before, the former US federal agent failed to appear in court for the tax evasion case which concerned him, raising concerns about his physical condition and whereabouts. However, he showed up at the money laundering hearing the next day, where he collapsed and required medical assistance.
Since then, it has been revealed that Gambaryan tested positive for malaria and was denied adequate medical assistance by prison guards. Due to his collapse, the court ordered that the executive be sent to a hospital for treatment.
According to the lawmakers’ letter, this request was not fully met and Gambaryan did not receive adequate treatment for the disease. As a result, House members, including Speaker Michael McCaul, are urging the U.S. government to move forward.
The letter requests that Gambaryan’s case be transferred to the Office of the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs. Ultimately, politicians expressed fear for the executive’s life and called for immediate action “before it is too late.”
Binance Coin (BNB) is trading at $700.1 in the weekly chart. Source: BNBUSDT on TradingView
Featured image from Unsplash.com, chart from TradingView.com
