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Representative Rich McCormick has introduced a resolution to the US Congress, urging lawmakers to officially declare Binance executive Tigran Gambaryan, who has been imprisoned in Nigeria since February 2024, as a hostage.
In a July 10 resolution forwarded to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, McCormick accused the Nigerian government of wrongful detention and extortion.
He appealed to the US administration to officially recognize Gambaryan as a hostage and to adopt all the necessary measures to free him if the issue will not be solved before the middle of July. This timeline is important because the Nigerian court will be on a break from mid-July to September.
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter">
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 <img src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/15.0.3/72x72/1f6a8.png" alt="🚨" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;">NEW: Legislation was introduced in the House today by <a href="https://twitter.com/RepMcCormick?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">@RepMcCormick</a> titled "Urging the Government of Nigeria to immediately release <a href="https://twitter.com/binance?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">@binance</a> employee Tigran Gambaryan from imprisonment." McCormick is Gambaryan's rep. in his home state of Georgia.<a href="https://t.co/ZoxAVjr4gD" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">https://t.co/ZoxAVjr4gD</a>— Eleanor Terrett (@EleanorTerrett) <a href="https://twitter.com/EleanorTerrett/status/1811459536231825784?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">July 11, 2024</a>
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Rep. French Hill, who visited Gambaryan in prison on June 20, cosponsors McCormick’s resolution . The decision came after more than 100 federal prosecutors and agents requested the State Department’s help in the case. In June, they addressed the State Department with a request to get Gambaryan out of jail.&nbsp;
<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-background-of-the-charges-against-gambaryan">Background of the Charges Against Gambaryan</h2>
Gambaryan and his colleague Nadeem Anjarwalla were arrested on the charges of tax evasion and money laundering. This was soon as they landed in Nigeria to represent Binance.&nbsp;
While Anjarwalla got a release from custody in March and fled to Kenya, Gambaryan stayed in prison. In June, the tax authorities of Nigeria withdrew the charges of tax evasion. However, EFCC remained adamant in going after the money laundering case.
Reportedly, during the time of his imprisonment, Gambaryan has experienced severe health issues, including pneumonia and malaria. His wife Yuki advocated for his release due to his health and the poor medical treatment he receives in custody.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-us-lawmakers-advocate-for-binance-exec-s-release">US Lawmakers Advocate for Binance Exec’s Release</h2>
The situation has attracted action from US legislators. After assessing Gambaryan’s situation in Nigeria’s Kuje prison, Chrissy Houlahan and French Hill urged for his release on humanitarian grounds.&nbsp;
They described the unhealthy and inhuman conditions of the prison and the weight loss and health problems Gambaryan has developed due to malnutrition.
Reuters report suggested that around 18 members of the US Congress have signed a letter to President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken act upon the release of the exec. The lawmakers highlighted the importance of the case and called on the US government to act to free Gambaryan.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-family-s-appeal-and-broader-support">Family’s Appeal and Broader Support</h2>
Yuki Gambaryan has also started a petition to have her husband brought back to the United States. The petion, which is almost halfway to its goal of 5,000 signatures has only 100 signatures left.
Concurrently, she complained about the EFCC’s failure to produce her husband even after the withdrawal of tax evasion charges. Reportedly, Yuki has been communicating with the Binance staff and her husband’s lawyers but has not been able to get any response from Nigerian authorities.
Ex-federal prosecutors and agents have also signed up for the campaign and sent a letter to the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
They focused on the fact that Gambaryan worked at the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for ten years. Consequently, they argue that he is not guilty of the accusations against him.
In addition, the group urged the US to act fast arguing that there would be severe repercussions if no action is taken.
The post <a href="https://www.thecoinrepublic.com/2024/07/12/us-congressman-fights-for-release-of-detained-binance-exec/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">US Congressman Fights for Release of Detained Binance Exec</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.thecoinrepublic.com" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">The Coin Republic</a>.

US Congressman Fights for Release of Detained Binance Exec

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