Binance Under Fire: US Diplomats Intervene in High-Stakes Battle to Free Detained Crypto Executive in Nigeria
Binance Executive Tigran Gambarian’s Detention Strains US-Nigeria Relations
US State Department diplomats have been informally pressuring Nigerian authorities to release Binance executive Tigran Gambarian, who has been detained since at least June 2024, according to a report by The New York Times.
The report highlights that Gambarian’s imprisonment has become a significant factor in strained relations between the two countries, with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and US Ambassador to Nigeria Richard Mills continuing to raise the issue with Nigerian authorities.
Ambassador Mills is set to meet with Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s cabinet in September 2024 to discuss the matter further and call for Gambarian’s release. However, Nigeria’s attorney general has insisted that his release will only occur after trial.
US Lawmakers Weigh In on Gambarian’s Detention
A potential strategy of designating Gambarian as a “wrongfully detained” person by the US State Department has been proposed by at least one US lawmaker. This move could increase political pressure on Nigeria to release Gambarian.
In July, Rep. Rich McCormick introduced a resolution in Congress calling for Gambarian’s detention to be considered a “hostage” situation. McCormick argued that the Nigerian government was holding Gambarian without reason for financial gain.
Gambarian’s Health Worsens, Humanitarian Concerns Grow
US diplomats have described Gambarian’s detention as a humanitarian issue, citing his deteriorating health as the main reason for his release. Gambarian’s health issues include a herniated lumbar disc requiring specialized surgery, multiple bouts of pneumonia, malaria, and a throat infection.
On September 2, 2024, attorneys for the detained Binance executive filed a new bail petition, arguing that their client needed to be released to receive medical treatment. The Nigerien prison authorities have been criticized for their general neglect of Gambariyan, which has exacerbated his health issues.
Gambarian’s lawyers have also asked the State Department to designate him as a “wrongfully detained” person to increase political pressure on Nigeria. State Department officials say that action has not been ruled out.