President Joe Biden has been urged by a group of eighteen state solicitors general to step in over the detention of Binance executive Tigran Gambaryan, who has been detained in Nigeria since February 2024.
In accordance with the Robert Levinson Hostage Recovery and Hostage-Taking Accountability Act, the group has petitioned the President to declare Gambaryan a hostage.
The History of Tigran Gambaryan
The head of financial crime compliance at Binance and a citizen of the United States, Gambaryan, was detained on suspicion of laundering over $35 million, a claim that he and Binance refuted.
He has however, been held in custody for more than eight months. The attorneys general conveyed their serious concerns regarding Gambaryan’s declining health and the illegality of his imprisonment in a joint letter dated October 18.
John Formella, one of the attorneys general, wrote in the letter: “His continued detention without cause is not only a violation of his rights but also poses a severe risk to his health and well-being.”
He added: “It is our duty to advocate for U.S. citizens abroad, and we urge the federal government to apply the necessary diplomatic pressure to secure his release.”
Gambaryan’s trial has been further delayed by his illness, which has prevented him from appearing in court. Judge Emeka Nwite of the Nigerian Federal High Court postponed the proceedings till October 25 to attend to his health.
His defence team contends that the trial has been unfairly postponed and cites Gambaryan’s failing health as a crucial issue that has to be addressed right away.
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Biden to Take Action for Gambaryan’s Release?
The solicitors general are pleading with Biden to act under the Robert Levinson Hostage Recovery and Hostage-Taking Accountability Act, which was enacted to address the unjustified confinement of American citizens overseas.
By designating Gambaryan under this statute, diplomatic efforts might be stepped up and pressure applied to the Nigerian government to grant his freedom.
This issue underscores persistent difficulties between Nigerian authorities and Binance in a larger context. The nation began a broad assault on cryptocurrency exchanges earlier this year because they had made it possible for people to trade unlawful foreign currencies.
Binance responded by stopping any transactions using the naira, the currency of Nigeria. In Nigeria, the exchange is also accused of separate tax evasion, which it disputes.