Binance CEO Richard Teng said that the U.S. government has the authority to designate Tigran Gambaryan, a Binance employee imprisoned in Nigeria, as an "unlawfully detained" citizen abroad to secure his release. Teng made his statement in a post on the company's website on August 27, six months after Gambaryan was detained by the Nigerian government.
"Tigran is a proud American who should not be subject to such unjust treatment," said Teng, according to Binance. "It is my sincere hope that the American government and political apparatus can exert its political will and muscle to bring Tigran home soon, so that he can get adequate treatment and be reunited with his family and loved ones. The U.S. administration and legislators have the power to designate Tigran as one of its 'unlawfully detained' citizens overseas, and there are substantial reasons for them to do so. People globally should add their voices and concerns, convincing the Nigerian government such unilateral action without a strong basis will be detrimental to the long-term economic development and well-being of the country."
According to CoinDesk, Nigerian government officials invited Gambaryan to participate in compliance discussions in February. Gambaryan was detained "without explanation," placed under house arrest, and later moved to Kuje prison. Nigeria charged Gambaryan with money laundering and tax evasion and accused his employer, Binance, of devaluing the naira. Gambaryan pleaded not guilty to all charges, and the tax evasion charges against him were later dropped. While in Kuje prison, Gambaryan's health has deteriorated. He has collapsed in court and is unable to walk due to a herniated disc in his back. Gambaryan's family says he is being denied adequate medical treatment as well as appropriate access to his legal team.
Tigran Gambaryan, a former U.S. federal government agent, in Nigerian court
| Youtube/@France24
Gambaryan's U.S. Representative, Rich McCormick (R-GA), filed a resolution in July with the House Foreign Affairs Committee urging the Nigerian government to release Gambaryan. According to the resolution, Gambaryan spent more than 10 years working as a special agent for the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) before joining Binance. The Nigerian government invited Gambaryan to participate in compliance discussions regarding Binance, but the meetings became "hostile," and Gambaryan was detained on February 26. Nigerian government officials "admitted openly in court that Tigran is being tried in lieu of pursuing legal action against his employer." The resolution said the U.S. government should "formally declare Tigran Gambaryan as a 'U.S. citizen wrongfully detained by a foreign government'" and called on the Nigerian government to provide Gambaryan with adequate medical care and ensure he receives due process.
Andrew Adams, a former U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) official, said the U.S. should stop its discretionary fund sharing with Nigeria to incentivize Gambaryan's release, according to an opinion Adams authored. "As a discretionary program, the DOJ, Treasury and the State Department are all empowered to cease these transfers under international sharing protocols," Adams said. "They should do so here when the purpose of the program – to incentivize foreign partners to uphold the rule of law through cooperation with U.S. enforcement efforts – is frustrated through transparently arbitrary, lawless prosecutions." Adams said that public response from the U.S. government to Gambaryan's detention has been "lacking," but acknowledged that official responses are "complex" because of broader implications for international relations.
Gambaryan joined Binance in September 2021 after spending ten years as a special agent for the IRS where he investigated cases involving national security and other serious crimes during his award-winning career.
Teng joined Binance in August 2021 after serving as CEO of Abu Dhabi Global Market’s Financial Services Regulatory Authority among other regulatory roles.
