Pressure is mounting for the government of Nigeria to release detained Binance executive Tigran Gambaryan following a new statement made this week by the crypto exchange’s CEO Richard Teng highlighting his “dire” condition.
Binance Executive In Worsening Health, Richard Teng Says
According to a blog post published this week by Teng, Gambaryan’s health has “deteriorated rapidly” as the crypto exchange compliance chief marks six months in detainment.
Today marks 6 months since Tigran was unjustly detained. He is denied proper medical treatment & legal counsel.
We appeal to the Nigerian government on humanitarian grounds to allow Tigran to return home for urgent medical care & reunite with his family.https://t.co/AKTij48o4U— Richard Teng (@_RichardTeng) August 27, 2024
Teng claims that Gambaryan is currently “unable to walk due to a herniated disc” and is in “severe pain” ahead of his September 2 trial on money laundering charges seemingly related to his work at the digital asset exchange.
Despite the impending court case, the Binance CEO alleges Gambaryan has been denied access to his legal counsel and his U.S. consulate representative.
The Nigerian government has reportedly withheld releasing Gambaryan’s medical records for several months despite being under a court order to do so.
“I am deeply concerned about the long-term, potentially irreversible physical and mental impact this horrific episode is having on Tigran and 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,” Teng said.
Gambaryan was detained in Nigeria in late February alongside fellow Binance employee Nadeem Anjarwalla after reportedly violating the country’s laws, though questions remain over the legitimacy of the African country’s claims regarding the digital asset employees.
Will Tigran Gambaryan Be Granted Release?
The duo were reportedly in the country for a set of crypto policy talks with government officials and had been guaranteed “safe passage.”
Following his sudden arrest, the crypto employee’s health quickly took a turn for the worse.
In June, U.S. lawmakers French Hill (R-LA) and Cynthia Houlahan visited Gambaryan, where they found him to be suffering from both Malaria and double pneumonia.
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… pic.twitter.com/OKEHMXxuF4
— French Hill (@RepFrenchHill) June 20, 2024
“Tigran is a proud American who should not be subject to such unjust treatment,” Teng continued. “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 the adequate treatment and be reunited with his family and loved ones. The US administration and legislators have the power to designate Tigran as one of its “unlawfully detained” citizens overseas and there are substantial reasons to do so.”
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