Representative Rich McCormick has introduced a resolution to the US Congress urging lawmakers to consider a detained Binance executive in Nigeria as a hostage. The executive, Tigran Gambaryan, has been held in custody since February, and Rep. McCormick is calling for immediate action to secure his release.
The Resolution and Its Claims
On July 10, Rep. McCormick referred the resolution to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. In the resolution, he asserted that the Nigerian government had wrongfully detained Tigran Gambaryan, a Binance executive, in an effort to extort the cryptocurrency exchange. McCormick urged the US government to formally declare Gambaryan a hostage and take necessary steps to ensure his release, along with providing medical care if his case remains unresolved by mid-July.
“Tigran’s detainment has been ongoing since February of 2024, the court typically takes a recess from mid-July to September,” said Rep. McCormick. “[I]f Tigran’s case is not resolved by mid-July, he may remain in detention for an even longer undue period of time.”
Support and Advocacy
Rep. McCormick submitted the resolution with the support of Rep. French Hill, who visited Gambaryan in prison on June 20. Their call to action echoed the pleas of over 100 federal prosecutors and agents who had asked the State Department in June to secure Gambaryan’s release.
Charges and Legal Proceedings
Authorities in Nigeria initially charged Gambaryan and his colleague Nadeem Anjarwalla with tax evasion and money laundering in February. The charges were brought after the two traveled to Nigeria as representatives of Binance. Anjarwalla escaped custody in March and reportedly fled to Kenya, where he is expected to be extradited back to Nigeria.
In June, Nigeria’s tax authority dropped the tax evasion charges against Gambaryan. However, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s (EFCC) money laundering case was still ongoing at the time of publication. Gambaryan’s family reported that he had experienced significant health issues during his imprisonment, including pneumonia, malaria, and various aches and pains.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| February 2024 | Gambaryan and Anjarwalla charged with tax evasion and money laundering |
| March 2024 | Anjarwalla escapes custody, flees to Kenya |
| June 2024 | Tax evasion charges dropped; money laundering case continues |
| June 20, 2024 | Rep. French Hill visits Gambaryan in prison |
| July 10, 2024 | Resolution introduced to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs |
Gambaryan’s wife, Yuki, has been actively campaigning for his release. She launched a petition that was nearing its goal of 5,000 signatures at the time of publication. Yuki reported maintaining communication with Binance staff and the lawyers representing her husband but had not been in touch with Nigerian government officials.
“In my eyes, it is evident any issues between Binance and the Nigerian authorities can and should be resolved without Tigran being caught in the middle,” Yuki told Cointelegraph.
The situation involving Gambaryan highlights broader issues of international legal conflicts and the potential for abuse of legal processes for financial or political gain. The case has garnered significant attention, raising questions about the treatment of foreign nationals in legal disputes and the responsibilities of their home countries to ensure fair treatment.
The resolution introduced by Rep. McCormick underscores the urgency of addressing the detention of Tigran Gambaryan. As the case continues to unfold, the actions taken by US lawmakers and international advocacy efforts will play a crucial role in determining the outcome. The broader implications for international legal proceedings and the treatment of detained individuals remain significant points of concern.
Featured image credit: PiggyBank Canada via Flickr
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