•Binance chief Tigran Gambaryan in court
Members of the United States House of Representatives, French Hill and Chrissy Houlahan have called for the release of Binance executive, Tigran Gambaryan, who is currently detained in Nigeria and facing charges of tax evasion as well as other financial crimes.
The call by the lawmakers followed their visit to Gambaryan at Kuje prison yesterday. They raised an alarm over his health condition.
The lawmakers said Gambaryan is suffering from malaria and double pneumonia, and told them he has lost significant weight and is being denied adequate medical attention.
Giving account of their visit to the Binance executive in a post on X, Hill wrote, “Yesterday, @RepHoulahan and I visited with US citizen Tigran Gambaryan in Kuje Prison in Nigeria. We found him suffering from the conditions there, as he has malaria and double pneumonia, and he reports that he has lost significant weight.
“Even worse, he’s being denied access to adequate medical attention. Although I am pleased that Nigeria dropped tax evasion charges against Tigran on 6/14, it’s my view that he’s being wrongfully detained on charges related to money laundering.”
He further stated, “Tigran has devoted his professional life to fighting money laundering and tax evasion, having spent ten years as an IRS Special Agent where he successfully led cyber and financial crime investigations.
“Further, at the time of his arrest, he was working as a contract employee at Binance and was instrumental in criminal investigations and compliance in cooperation with Nigerian authorities.
“On 6/4, I joined a letter with@RepMcCormick and 16 other colleagues to @POTUS, @SecBlinken, and @StateSPEHA urging for Tigran’s immediate release. Two days later, over 100 former federal prosecutors and agents wrote to @SecBlinken further urging @StateDept to use all means available to secure his release.
“Tigran must be immediately granted a humanitarian release, the remaining charges dropped, and he must return home to America where he belongs.”