The US government is urging Nigeria to release an employee of the world’s largest crypto exchange Binance who was arrested in February and has faced worsening health conditions in prison, according to two US State Department officials.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken raised the issue directly with his Nigerian counterpart in May, as confirmed by the officials. US diplomats, including the ambassador to Nigeria, have since held private discussions with several top Nigerian officials, including the country’s president, finance minister, attorney general, and trade minister, advocating for the employee’s release.
The detained employee, Mr. Gambaryan, 40, has reportedly endured significant medical challenges while incarcerated, including a bout of malaria and complications stemming from a herniated disk.
US diplomats have stressed the need for his release on humanitarian grounds. According to his family, Mr. Gambaryan has not received adequate medical attention, leading to a rapid decline in his health.
Efforts to secure his release have escalated since June, with the State Department repeatedly pressing the Nigerian government over concerns about his lack of proper medical care. Despite this, his supporters are calling on the U.S. to take more decisive action.
Mr. Gambaryan’s wife, Yuki, expressed her frustrations in an interview, saying, “I would be very upset if the US government welcomes Nigerian delegates with open arms,” referring to the upcoming visit of Nigerian officials to New York for the United Nations General Assembly.
As Crypto Briefing reported, in May, Binance CEO Richard Teng demanded the release of Tigran Gambaryan, detained in Nigeria for over 70 days, warning of the dangerous precedent it sets for global businesses.
In June, US lawmakers visited Binance executive Tigran Gambaryan in a Nigerian prison, advocating for his release due to critical health conditions and inadequate care.
