US Attorneys General Urge Biden to Aid in Release of Tigran Gambaryan

A coalition of attorneys general from 18 states has appealed to US President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken to designate Binance executive Tigran Gambaryan as a hostage.

“In light of the alarming circumstances surrounding the unlawful detention of Tigran Gambaryan in Nigeria, I support my colleagues in urging the Biden administration to recognize him as a hostage. Gambaryan is a dedicated public servant who has devoted his life to upholding the law and protecting American values. His continued detention without cause is not only a violation of his rights but also poses a serious risk to his health,” stated New Hampshire Attorney General John Formella.

He urged “decisive action” to ensure the safe return of the Binance executive to his family “before it is too late.”

“We have a duty to protect citizens abroad, and we call on the federal government to exert the necessary diplomatic pressure to secure his release,” Formella added.

The letter highlights Gambaryan’s career at the US Internal Revenue Service, where he worked from 2011 to 2021, with a particular focus on cases involving digital assets.

“Gambaryan joined the international cryptocurrency exchange Binance, where he applied his law enforcement expertise to help Binance align its operations with US legal standards and international security priorities,” the letter states.

Law enforcement officials believe that recognizing Gambaryan as a hostage under the Robert Levinson Act would unlock “critical resources and exert diplomatic pressure, significantly increasing his chances for immediate release.”

In February, Gambaryan and Binance’s director for West and East Africa, Nadim Anjarwalla, were detained in Nigeria following a meeting with the country’s authorities. Along with Binance Holdings Limited, they were accused of tax evasion and money laundering. The company and its executives deny the charges.

At the end of March, Anjarwalla secretly flew from Nigeria to Kenya. However, authorities tracked him down there and arranged for extradition.

In May, a court denied Gambaryan bail.

Due to the conditions in the local prison, his physical health has deteriorated sharply. The executive suffers from a herniated disc, as well as bouts of pneumonia, malaria, and tonsillitis.

In June, US Representatives French Hill and Chrissy Houlahan, who visited Gambaryan in prison, stated that he is not receiving adequate medical care. Nigeria’s Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, refuted their claims.

In September, the executive appeared at resumed court hearings on crutches, as he was denied a wheelchair.

His wife, Yuki Gambaryan, has urged the US State Department to intervene. She believes the government is the last hope for her husband’s return home.

In October, a Nigerian court once again denied Gambaryan bail.