The U.S. government is reportedly ramping up diplomatic efforts to secure the release of Tigran Gambaryan, a Binance employee detained in Nigeria since February 2024.

Members of the U.S. government have reportedly held private conversations advocating for Gambaryan’s release with Nigeria’s president, finance minister, attorney general and trade minister, according to New York Times reporting. 

Gambaryan, a former U.S. law enforcement officer and Binance’s (BNB) head of financial crime compliance traveled to Nigeria for meetings about the exchange’s business dealings in the country. However, he was arrested on charges of tax evasion and money laundering. 

While the tax charges were later dropped, he remains detained on money laundering accusations.

Gambaryan’s detention has strained U.S.-Nigeria relations, with Secretary of State Antony Blinken personally raising the issue with his Nigerian counterpart, according to the NYT.

Gambaryan’s health issues

Other U.S. diplomats, including the ambassador to Nigeria, have also pushed for his release on humanitarian grounds, as Gambaryan’s health has reportedly deteriorated. 

He has suffered from malaria and complications related to a herniated disk, and his family claims that he has not received adequate medical care, leading to further health issues.

In late August, Binance CEO Richard Teng publicly called for Gambaryan’s release, criticizing the Nigerian government for holding him based on “baseless allegations.” Teng emphasized that the executive’s detention is causing severe physical and mental harm, urging Nigeria to resolve the situation amicably, as Binance has done in other countries.

In recent court proceedings in early September, Gambaryan was reportedly denied access to a wheelchair and was forced to use crutches, according to press releases shared with crypto.news. 

Despite these government efforts, Gambaryan remains in Kuje Detention Facility near Abuja, with the U.S. continuing to advocate for his release.