Binance Appeals to U.S. Over Tigran Gambaryan's Detention in Nigeria

by Giorgi Kostiuk

2 years ago

Deteriorating Conditions
Calls for Humanitarian Intervention
Detention History

Binance CEO Richard Teng has called on U.S. authorities and the international community to intervene as Tigran Gambaryan, a former U.S. federal agent and Binance executive, has been detained in Nigeria for six months under deteriorating conditions.

Deteriorating Conditions

In a statement published by Binance’s CEO Richard Teng on the company's website on August 27, Gambaryan is reported to be suffering from “severe pain” and is unable to walk due to a “herniated disc.” Despite his condition, Nigerian authorities have denied him adequate medical care, including basic needs such as access to a wheelchair.

“Despite his condition, Nigerian authorities have denied him adequate medical care, including basic needs such as access to a wheelchair.”Richard Teng

Calls for Humanitarian Intervention

Despite court orders to release Tigran Gambaryan’s medical records and demands for humane treatment, Nigerian authorities have not complied, according to the CEO. Teng urged the U.S. government to leverage its influence to secure Gambaryan’s release on humanitarian grounds and to protest Nigeria’s detention practices. He called on the U.S. administration to recognize Gambaryan as one of its “unlawfully detained” citizens abroad.

“There is no need to imprison an innocent employee to answer for any allegations against Binance. We have resolved matters in countries around the world, including the U.S., Thailand, and most recently in Brazil and India, in a reasonable, collaborative, and amicable manner with governments.”Richard Teng

Detention History

This is not Teng’s first appeal for intervention. In May 2024, he appealed to the Nigerian government to release Gambaryan, who is the head of Binance’s Financial Crime and Compliance unit. At the time, Teng emphasized that the situation required attention from the global business community. Gambaryan and Nadeem Anjarwalla, Binance’s Africa regional manager, were detained by the Nigerian government after being invited to Abuja to discuss the exchange’s compliance with local laws in February 2024. Later, charges of tax evasion were brought against Binance and its executives.

The appeal by Binance CEO Richard Teng highlights the need for international intervention to secure Tigran Gambaryan’s release, underlining the risks international companies face in unstable legal systems.

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