The US House Foreign Affairs Committee has passed a resolution demanding the release of detained Binance Executive Tigran Gambaryan in Nigeria, citing concerns over his health. This legislative measure adds to the increasing pressure from US authorities on the Nigerian government, as Gambaryan has now spent seven months in detention.
Introduced by Republican Representatives Rich McCormick and French Hill in July, the resolution, H.Res. 1348, was approved by voice vote during a hearing on Tuesday.
The resolution calls on the Nigerian government to release Gambaryan and ensure he receives unrestricted medical care. It also urges the U.S. State Department to utilize all available resources to secure his release and officially recognize that Gambaryan is being wrongfully detained, as stated by McCormick during the hearing.
“Tigran is suffering, not to mention his wife and two young children waiting at home for his return,” McCormick emphasized. “This is no way for an American citizen to be treated by the custody of a foreign government, especially one that’s supposed to be our ally and partner in the region,” he added.
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Rep. Gregory Meeks, the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, expressed support for the resolution, noting that the US government had previously engaged with Nigeria regarding Gambaryan’s situation.
He expressed disappointment that Nigeria 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. “But regardless of how that process plays out, we must continue to press the Nigerian government.”
Tigran Gambaryan, a former agent for the U.S. Internal Revenue Service and Binance’s head of financial crime compliance, was detained alongside Nardeem Anjarwalla, another Binance executive based in Kenya, upon their arrival in Nigeria for an invitation.
Anjarwalla, a British-Kenyan citizen, managed to escape using a second passport, while Gambaryan remains in custody. Nigerian authorities accuse Binance of money laundering and tax evasion, and both parties have been embroiled in legal battles since their meeting in February.
US authorities and Gambaryan’s family have been advocating for his release due to growing medical concerns, including a herniated disk issue that has been part of his medical history. In response, Nigerian officials have claimed that his health issues are exaggerated and not life-threatening.
