The U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee passed a legislative measure demanding the Nigerian government to immediately release Binance executive Tigran Gambaryan as his health continues to worsen in prison.
Gambaryan, a former agent for the U.S. Internal Revenue Service and Binance’s head of financial crime compliance, and another Binance executive Nadeem Anjarwalla were detained after arriving in Nigeria in February amid accusations of Binance making illegal transaction profits locally. Criminal charges were filed against them on Feb. 28. Anjarwalla later escaped from custody on March 22.
Gambaryan's family has said his health is quickly declining. They said he is suffering from a herniated disk, has pneumonia and is "mostly bedridden."
H.Res. 1348, which was introduced by Republican Reps. Rich McCormick and French Hill in July, was passed by a voice vote during a hearing on Tuesday. The resolution would demand the Nigerian government to release Gambaryan and provide him "unrestricted medical care," and also requests the U.S. State Department to "use all available assets, all means, to secure his release" and officially declare that Gambaryan is being "wrongfully detained," McCormick said during a hearing on Tuesday.
"Tigran is suffering, not to mention his wife and two young children waiting at home for his return," McCormick said. "This is no way for an American citizen to be treated by custody of a foreign government, especially one that's supposed to be our ally and partner in the region."
Rep. Gregory Meeks, top Democrat of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said the U.S. government has communicated with the Nigerian government to release Gambaryan and said he was disappointed the country had not responded.
"I know that the State Department is fully engaged in Mr. Gambaryan's case and they are weighing the facts according to their process," Meeks said in support of the resolution. "But regardless of how that process plays out, we must continue to press the Nigerian government."
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