October 24th 2023
TIGRAN GAMBARYAN LEAVES NIGERIA AFTER 8 MONTHS UNLAWFUL DETENTION
October 23rd, 2024
Today, American citizen Tigran Gambaryan left Nigeria to return home to his family after eight months of unlawful detention. The charges brought against him by the Nigerian Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) were dropped in court in Abuja yesterday. The EFCC prosecutor stated in court: “The government has reviewed the case and, taking into consideration that the second defendant (Mr. Gambaryan) is an employee of the first defendant (Binance Holdings Limited), whose status in the matter has more impact than the second defendant’s, and also taking into consideration some critical international and diplomatic reasons, the state seeks to discontinue the case against the second defendant.” Tigran was released from Kuje prison last night. Tigran’s health has suffered significantly while in prison, and he will now finally receive the medical attention he desperately requires. Tigran’s wife, Yuki Gambaryan, has released the following statement: “It is a huge relief that this day has finally come. The past eight months have been a living nightmare. I wish it hadn’t taken this long for his release, or that his health had not declined so much, but we can now focus on healing as a family. I want to express my deepest gratitude to the US government for their efforts in securing his release. I also want to thank everyone who helped us throughout this ordeal. There were moments I feared this day would never come, but Tigran’s supporters gave me hope and strength. The road ahead for Tigran’s recovery is going to be difficult, and I appreciate us being given the time and space to focus on that. Our children cannot wait to see their dad again.”
Editor’s note: I spoke to Tigran today from his hotel in Rome. He was flown out of Nigeria on a swanky airplane. The first time he’s been on a private jet in his life. I think he’s allowed to have a carbon footprint this time around. After a lively debate about whether malaria or liver cancer is the best way to lose weight, we chatted some more. As you’re reading this, hopefully he’s enjoying pizza and beer with some other 1811s on vacation.
PREVOUS ARTICLE BELOW (APRIL 2024)
As April 2nd dawns, a new month brings the promise of spring, with temperatures on the rise. Yet, amidst this renewal, there’s still no positive news on the unjust confinement of former Special Agent Tigran Gambaryan and Nadeem Anjarwalla, high-ranking employees at Binance. Tigran, a US citizen, led Financial Crime Compliance, while Nadeem, a citizen of Kenya and the UK, represented Binance in East and West Africa.
Free Tigran
Since February 26th, the two Binance executives have been detained by Nigerian authorities in a guest house room, their reasons for detention shrouded in mystery. Yet, their affiliation with Binance, a major cryptocurrency exchange, hints at a connection. Nigerian authorities have been aggressively targeting cryptocurrencies, ostensibly to salvage the national currency from total collapse. Seemingly at the cost of sacrificing the individual freedoms of innocent people.
Dispatched to Nigeria on February 25 by their company, Tigran and Nadeem were on a mission: to hold official meetings and negotiate common ground with authorities. Their goal? To address the fallout from the Nigerian government’s decision to cut off crypto companies from telecom giants. However, their mission took a dark turn. Instead of engaging in verbal negotiations, they found themselves in an unexpected role: hostages for the Nigerian government, evidently used as bargaining chips to pressure crypto companies into compliance.
Confined to a room without charges and stripped of their passports, Tigran and Nadeem’s freedom hangs by a thread. With no clear answers and uncertainty about their governments’ efforts to secure their release, they remain in limbo. Despite the Nigerian court’s approved 14-day detention period for further investigations, which expired almost a month ago, there’s been no sign of the authorities changing course.
While the world marches on outside their confined room, Tigran and Nadeem’s families are stuck in the agonizing moment they learned of their unjust detention. Their wives fight tirelessly for their release, longing for the day they can reunite. These devoted husbands and fathers are robbed of precious moments with their loved ones. Above all, the Nigerian authorities seem to have overlooked a fundamental truth — they are human beings. Their lives shouldn’t be gambled in a political game they never signed up for.
Tigran’s wife, Yuri Gambaryan, has launched a new petition demanding freedom for her husband and his colleague. Every signature counts, bringing their plight to the attention of US officials and exerting pressure for prompt action. With increased pressure, there’s a greater chance of freeing these innocent men from their 40-day unjust confinement. Let’s ensure they reunite with their families where they rightfully belong. Sign the petition and amplify Tigran and Nadeem’s families’ voices!