Crypto exchange Binance is urgently appealing to the US government and global organizations to exert political pressure on Nigeria for the release of its top executive, Tigran Gambaryan, who has been “unjustly detained” for the past six months.
Binance CEO Richard Teng stated on Tuesday that Gambaryan, a US citizen, is suffering severe physical and mental health deterioration due to inadequate medical care and lack of legal counsel from Nigerian authorities.
Despite a court order for Gambaryan’s medical records, the authorities have reportedly not complied.
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Teng highlighted that:“Tigran’s condition has worsened rapidly, and he is now in severe pain and unable to walk due to a herniated disc. the nigerian government has denied him necessary medical care, including access to a wheelchair.”
Binance asserts that Gambaryan’s detention stems from “baseless allegations” connecting the exchange to Nigeria’s economic challenges, such as the devaluation of the Naira.
Teng disputed these claims, explaining that Binance’s operations in Nigeria are minimal and that the Naira’s decline is due to broader macroeconomic factors.
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“There is no reason to detain an innocent employee for allegations against binance. we have resolved issues with governments around the world in a reasonable and collaborative manner, without harm to our employees.”
Binance is calling on the US government to recognize Gambaryan as an “unlawfully detained” citizen to help apply significant political pressure on Nigeria for his release on humanitarian grounds. The company urges global citizens and organizations to advocate for Gambaryan’s freedom and condemn Nigeria’s “unjust detention practices.”
Teng expressed readiness to collaborate with the Nigerian government to support the development of the country’s Web3 industry and attract foreign investment, but only after Gambaryan’s case is resolved. He concluded:
“key stakeholders in the nigerian government made the unfair decision to detain tigran, and they can just as easily decide to allow him to return home to his wife and two young children. we appeal to all decision-makers in nigeria on humanitarian grounds to grant tigran safe passage home.”
