Representative Rich McCormick introduced a resolution to the US Congress calling on lawmakers to consider a Binance executive who has been detained in Nigeria since February as a hostage.
In a July 10 resolution referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Rep. McCormick claimed the government of Nigeria had wrongfully detained Binance executive Tigran Gambaryan “in order to extort” the cryptocurrency exchange. He called on the US government to formally declare Gambaryan as a hostage and take steps to ensure the Nigerian government releases him and provides medical care if the case was not resolved by mid-July.
“Tigran’s detainment has been ongoing since February of 2024, the court typically takes a recess from mid-July to September,” said Rep. McCormick. “[I]f Tigran’s case is not resolved by mid-July, he may remain in detention for an even longer undue period of time.”
Rep. McCormick submitted the resolution on behalf of himself and Rep. French Hill, who visited Gambaryan in prison on June 20. The call for action echoed responses from more than 100 federal prosecutors and agents asking the State Department to secure Gambaryan’s release in June.
Criminal charges against Gambaryan
Authorities initially charged Gambaryan and his colleague Nadeem Anjarwalla with tax evasion and money laundering in February after the two traveled to Nigeria as representatives of Binance. Anjarwalla escaped custody in March and reportedly fled to Kenya, but he is expected to be extradited to Nigeria.
In June, Nigeria’s tax authority dropped the tax evasion charges, but the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s money laundering case was ongoing at the time of publication. A spokesperson for Gambaryan’s family said he had experienced significant health problems during his imprisonment, including pneumonia, malaria, and various aches and pains.
Related: Binance vs. Nigeria: A timeline of events
Gambaryan’s wife, Yuki, launched a petition to bring her husband back to the US, which was nearing its goal of 5,000 signatures at the time of publication. She reported being in touch with Binance staff and the lawyers representing her husband in the money laundering case but not officials with the Nigerian government.
“In my eyes, it is evident any issues between Binance and the Nigerian authorities can and should be resolved without Tigran being caught in the middle,” Yuki told Cointelegraph.
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