- Tigran Gambaryan’s health has steadily declined throughout his detainment in a Nigerian prison since February.
- Binance’s CEO and Gambaryan’s family have voiced their concerns about the “irreversible physical and mental impact” on his health and his “reaching the point of no return.”
Tigran Gambaryan, Binance’s head of crime compliance, will be brought back to court on September 2 as his trial for money laundering resumes. The court initially set a hearing for October 11, but defense lawyers convinced it to move it ahead to next week, according to Gambaryan’s family.
He has remained in prison for the last six months after his arrest in February. More specifically, the Kuje Prison—a facility known to house the most notorious criminals, including members of the terrorist group Boko Haram. While his case was ongoing, and the court dropped tax fraud charges against him, it had to break for vacation in mid-July, leaving him stuck in prison. Now, it will pick up where it left off. Another Binance executive, Nadeem Anjarwalla, was also accused of the tax fraud charges and remains accused of money laundering. However, he broke out of jail and fled Nigeria months ago.
Concerns Voiced as Gambaryan’s Health Enters Critical Territory
As Gambaryan remains captive, his health has deteriorated tremendously. Reports emerged earlier of him suffering double pneumonia and malaria. Now, his wife, Yuki Gambaryan, has posted a video on YouTube, speaking about his recent condition. “Between bouts of malaria, pneumonia, and the unimaginable mental toll of his detention, he is now reaching the point of no return.”
Binance CEO Richard Teng posted a blog dedicated to the issue, highlighting his “deteriorating condition.” Teng stated, “Tigran’s physical and mental conditions have deteriorated rapidly, and his situation is now more dire than ever. He is in severe pain and unable to walk due to a herniated disc.” Gambaryan has not received adequate medical care in the facility and has even been denied access to a wheelchair.
Teng further said, “I appeal once again for the Nigerian government to allow him to go home to his family on humanitarian grounds so that he can seek the appropriate medical treatment in the US, recover and get back to the healthy, active life he previously had.” He also pointed out the baseless nature of the claims causing Gambaryan’s arrest and how this detainment, without proof, is unlawful.
He mentioned how no reason exists for Nigeria to detain blameless employees for allegations against its operations. “We have settled issues in countries around the world, including the US, Thailand, and most recently in Brazil and India, in a reasonable, collaborative, and amicable manner with governments. All these were done without threat or harm inflicted on our employees.”
