Sixteen members of the United States House of Representatives have called on President Joe Biden to take immediate action to secure the release of Tigran Gambaryan, a U.S. citizen and Binance executive, who has been detained in Nigeria since February.
In a letter addressed to the President, the lawmakers requested that Gambaryan’s case be transferred to the Office of the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs, highlighting concerns over his well-being and safety.
Gambaryan, Binance’s Chief of Financial Compliance, was arrested by the Nigerian government and initially held at a guest house before formal charges were brought against him and the cryptocurrency company in an Abuja court in April. The charges include non-payment of value-added tax and corporate income tax, as well as accusations of aiding customers in tax evasion through Binance’s platform.
The letter, published by Fox Business correspondent Eleanor Terrett on her X handle, emphasized that Gambaryan qualifies as a “U.S. citizen wrongfully detained by a foreign government.”
The lawmakers cited “excessive and harsh treatment” during his detention, raising alarms over his deteriorating health and the potential risk to his life.
“On behalf of Mr. Gambaryan, his family, and concerned Americans, we, the undersigned, urgently request and strongly encourage the transfer of his case to the Office of the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs,” the letter stated. “Mr. Gambaryan’s health and well-being are in danger, and we fear for his life. Immediate action is essential to ensure his safety and preserve his life. We must act swiftly before it is too late.”
The signatories include notable figures such as House Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Rep. Michael T. McCaul, R-Texas. They stressed that Gambaryan had been “wrongfully detained” following his compliance with the Nigerian government’s request for discussions regarding Binance’s operations in the country.
The detention of Gambaryan has sparked concerns within the U.S. government, with lawmakers asserting that the Nigerian authorities’ actions amounted to taking him hostage. They are urging the Biden administration to employ all available diplomatic and legal avenues to facilitate his release and return to the United States.
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