US government officials are trying to gain access to Binance employee Tigran Gambaryan, who is imprisoned in Nigeria. Gambaryan was arrested in February while in Nigeria for regulatory discussions. His colleague Nadeem Anjarwalla, who was involved in the same incident, managed to leave the country.
Detention and Health Condition
Gambaryan continues to stay in a Nigerian prison following his arrest. In August, it was reported that his physical condition was rapidly deteriorating. It is noted that Gambaryan has a hernia, which causes severe pain. Additionally, it is alleged that the Nigerian government is not providing him with adequate medical care.
Tigran’s physical and mental condition rapidly deteriorated, and his situation is now more dire than ever. He is in severe pain and cannot walk due to his hernia. Despite his condition, the Nigerian government has not provided him with adequate medical care, including basic necessities like a wheelchair.
Binance CEO’s Reaction
Binance CEO Richard Teng described the treatment of Gambaryan by Nigerian authorities as “inhumane” and demanded that he be allowed to return home.
This inhumane treatment must end. Tigran should be allowed to return home for medical treatment and to be with his family.
US Intervention
According to the Nigerian news source Punch, the US embassy is making efforts to gain access to Gambaryan, who is a US citizen. These efforts are reportedly driven by concerns about Gambaryan’s health. An anonymous source familiar with the matter stated that the US is particularly concerned about his health after his family made the issue public in the US.
The US is concerned about the man’s health, especially after his family made the issue public in the US… I can’t say they are lobbying, but they are concerned about not being able to access a US citizen. Remember, Binance also had issues in the US.
In addition to his hernia, Gambaryan is known to have suffered from malaria and pneumonia attacks. However, lawyers for the Nigerian Economic and Financial Crimes Commission argue that Gambaryan’s health is not bad and that his hernia existed before his imprisonment.
This incident highlights an important issue in the context of international diplomatic relations and human rights. The effectiveness of diplomatic channels in ensuring that someone with deteriorating health receives the necessary medical assistance can be questioned. The stance of the Nigerian government and the efforts of the US will continue to be monitored for future outcomes.