The U.S. government has once again urged Nigeria to release an employee of the leading crypto exchange Binance, Tigran Gambaryan. Gambaryan was traveling to Nigeria in February to hold meetings with local officials about Binance’s business dealings when he was arrested.
He is facing serious medical problems in prison, claimed two senior State Department officials.
Antony Blinken, Secretary of State raised the matter of his detention with his Nigerian counterpart in May. The officials further revealed that even the US ambassador to Nigeria, has also privately requested for Gambaryan’s release with Nigeria’s president, finance minister, attorney general and trade minister.
The U.S. diplomats argued that Gambaryan, 40, should be released on humanitarian grounds, after he suffered from malaria and problems coming from a herniated disk, the officials further added.
Gambaryan’s family has claimed that he hasn’t received adequate medical treatment, leading to a further deterioration in his health.
The detention of Tigran Gambaryan, who is a former U.S. law enforcement officer, has become a significant issue in the diplomatic relationship between the United States and Nigeria.
Nigeria charged Mr. Gambaryan and Binance with tax evasion(which were later dropped) and money laundering. The firm refuted the claims and argued that Mr. Gambaryan was a midlevel employee who should not be held responsible for the company’s actions.
Bayo Onanuga, an adviser to Nigeria’s president, Bola Tinubu, has said, “Talks are ongoing. Government will do all it can within the law, and also bearing in mind Gambaryan’s humanitarian rights.”
Since June, the US State Department has made private requests to the Nigerian government to release Gambaryan, claiming he has not received proper medical care.
Also Read: Binance CEO calls Gambaryan’s treatment ‘inhuman’ in a disturbing video
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