US lawmakers have urged President Joe Biden to intervene in the case of Tigran Gambaryan, a Binance executive detained in Nigeria.In a June 4 letter to President Biden, Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, and Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs Roger Carstens, the lawmakers highlighted Gambaryan’s wrongful detention by the Nigerian government.Gambaryan, a US citizen and Binance’s head of compliance traveled to Nigeria with another colleague, Nadeem Anjarwalla, in February to address the company’s regulatory challenges in the African country. After two initial professional meetings turned hostile, they were detained, but Anjarwalla managed to escape detention in March.Subsequently, the Nigerian government filed charges against both Binance and Gambaryan, accusing them of money laundering and tax evasion.The lawmakers stated that Gambaryan has been charged with several “baseless” crimes and is being held at Kuje Prison, known for its harsh conditions. Additionally, they stated that Gambaryan has been fighting “for his life inside a prison cell designed to hold ISIS combatants” and has tested positive for malaria without receiving adequate treatment.The lawmakers argued that these actions were part of a coercion tactic by Nigerian authorities to extort Binance. They stated:“Mr. Gambaryan’s detainment has been marked by excessive and harsh treatment…It is crucial to emphasize that the charges against Mr. Gambaryan are baseless and constitute a coercion tactic by the Nigerian government to extort his employer, Binance.”The legislators noted that Gambaryan now legally qualifies as a US citizen wrongfully detained by a foreign government. So, they requested that his case be urgently transferred to the Office of the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs, where it would be adequately treated. They wrote:“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.”16 lawmakers, including the House Foreign Affairs Committee chair, Michael McCaul, signed the letter. Other Congress members who signed the letter are Keith Self, French Hill, Warren Davidson, and others.Oluwapelumi values Bitcoin’s potential. He imparts insights on a range of topics like DeFi, hacks, mining and culture, underlining transformative power.Also known as “Akiba,” Liam is a reporter, editor and podcast producer at CryptoSlate. He believes that decentralized technology has the potential to make widespread positive change. Your daily dose of must-have crypto news and deep dives. Direct to your inbox.The Nigerian government maintains Gambaryan and Binance would be allowed to themselves in court.Tigran Gambaryan has been held in Nigeria since February 26.Stakeholders warn that the continued detention of Binance executives in Nigeria could cause reputational damage for the country.The IMF contends that through proper regulation and licensing, cryptocurrencies can provide Nigeria with tools for more secure and efficient transaction processes.CryptoSlate’s latest market report dives deep into the effects corporate Bitcoin purchases have on the market.Disclaimer: Our writers’ opinions are solely their own and do not reflect the opinion of CryptoSlate. None of the information you read on CryptoSlate should be taken as investment advice, nor does CryptoSlate endorse any project that may be mentioned or linked to in this article. Buying and trading cryptocurrencies should be considered a high-risk activity. Please do your own due diligence before taking any action related to content within this article. Finally, CryptoSlate takes no responsibility should you lose money trading cryptocurrencies.
