The United States Congress is urging the U.S. government to take all necessary actions to secure the immediate release of Tigran Gambaryan, a Binance executive facing $35 million money laundering charges in Nigeria. Congress is pushing for Gambaryan to be formally declared as a “U.S. citizen wrongfully detained by a foreign government” under section 302(a) of the Robert Levinson Hostage Recovery and Hostage-Taking Accountability Act.
This call to action was included in resolutions submitted to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs on June 10, sponsored by Congressmen Rich McCormick and French Hill. The Congressmen visited Gambaryan at the Kuje Correctional Facility on June 20 and expressed deep concern over his conditions.
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The resolutions urge the Nigerian government to immediately release Gambaryan and ensure he receives full, unfettered consular access and medical care as required under international obligations. They highlight that Gambaryan’s health has been deteriorating during his detention and demand that Nigeria provides him with necessary medical treatments, including antimalarials.
Gambaryan has been detained since February 2024, and with the Federal High Court’s recess approaching from mid-July to September, there is concern that his detention may be unduly prolonged if his case is not resolved before the recess.
“Repeated requests for doctor visits have been slow to be fulfilled, and when a doctor did visit, Tigran was referred to a specialist rather than treated,” the resolutions noted.
The resolutions also recount that on May 22, Gambaryan was absent from a court hearing without explanation, leading to a postponement. The following day, he appeared in court but collapsed, testing positive for malaria. Despite a court order for his hospital treatment, delays have persisted.
As of June 14, Gambaryan remains charged by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, despite growing concerns over his health and calls for his release on humanitarian grounds.
