The U.S. House of Representatives has introduced a resolution calling on the U.S. government to take immediate action to secure the release of Tigran Gambaryan, a former federal agent and current Binance employee who has been detained in Nigeria since February.
The resolution, filed July 11 by Reps. Rich McCormick and French Hill, D-Calif., highlights Gambaryan’s contributions in recovering more than $4 billion in illicit funds during his tenure as a federal agent.
Review of the incident
On February 26, Tigran Gambaryan visited Nigeria to participate in a high-level meeting. The meeting focused on the compliance issues of Binance in Nigeria. At that time, Nigeria is currently facing a challenge that the widespread adoption of cryptocurrencies through peer-to-peer markets has had an impact on the local fiat currency, which is believed to be an indirect cause of the sharp depreciation of the naira.
According to the final decision, the atmosphere of the talks became tense and confrontational, which led to Gambaryan's detention without due process. Nigerian authorities confined Gambaryan to a government-controlled residence for five days. During this time, he was prohibited from having any form of contact with his family, company, legal advisors, and the U.S. State Department.
Despite a court order limiting his detention to 14 days, Nigerian officials continued to detain him without legal basis from March 12 to April 5, charging Gambaryan with crimes including tax evasion and money laundering.
Gambaryan was subsequently transferred to Kuje Prison, known for its poor conditions and the detention of Boko Haram members. The US State Department's 2023 Human Rights Report has documented serious abuses in Nigerian prisons, further raising concerns about Gambaryan's treatment.
Undue detention incidents
According to a statement by Nigeria’s Information Minister Mohammed Idris, the resolution states that Gambaryan was wrongly detained in an effort to put pressure on Binance.
The report further reveals the difficulties faced in securing Gambaryan’s release, including deliberate delays in the trial process and the denial of bail requests, while Gambaryan was also denied the right to communicate privately with his lawyer and family while in detention.
Documents show that a U.S. congressional delegation visited Gambaryan on June 20 and expressed great concern about his treatment. The resolution also details that Gambaryan's health has deteriorated due to inadequate medical care. On May 23, he was diagnosed with malaria and fainted in court, but authorities delayed his medical treatment. Although the judge ordered that he should be taken to a hospital, officials sent him back to prison after a brief hospital stay.
The resolution calls on the U.S. government to take immediate action to secure Gambaryan’s release and acknowledge that he has been wrongfully detained, while ensuring that he receives adequate consular support and necessary medical care while in detention.
Furthermore, the House resolution calls on the Nigerian government to uphold due process and human rights for Gambaryan and all other political prisoners, and expresses solidarity with his family during this difficult time.
Conclusion:
The U.S. House of Representatives has introduced a resolution to express its high concern for the case of Tigran Gambaryan and emphasize the U.S. government's responsibility in ensuring the rights of its citizens. This move not only reflects the concern for Gambaryan's personal fate, but also reflects the adherence to the principles of international rule of law and justice.
Leaving aside the controversy surrounding the case, ensuring that Gambaryan receives adequate consular support and necessary medical care during his detention is a fundamental right of detainees that should be respected and guaranteed by the Nigerian authorities.