Binance exec Tigran Gambaryan’s family requested the Nigerian government to release him as his health deteriorated while being held without legal access.
The family of Tigran Gambaryan, a U.S. citizen and executive at Binance, is urgently appealing to the Nigerian government for his release from detention, citing his rapidly declining health.
Gambaryan has been held at Kuje Prison since February 26, following his arrest after a meeting with Nigerian authorities in Abuja.
Family Pleads for Release of Binance Executive Tigran Gambaryan
Since July 26, Gambaryan’s legal team has been denied access to him at Kuje Prison, which violates both the Nigerian Constitution and Section 45 of the Nigerian Prisons Regulations.
This section clearly states that “all prisoners, other than prisoners under sentence, shall be allowed all reasonable opportunities daily of communicating with their friends or legal adviser, and they may write and receive letters.”
The denial of access to his lawyers has sparked concerns about his right to a fair trial and his overall well-being.
Gambaryan’s health has severely deteriorated during his detention.
He suffers from a herniated disc, which has worsened while in custody and now requires highly specialized and risky surgery.
Additionally, he has endured multiple throat infections and pneumonia, necessitating further surgery to remove his tonsils.
His wife, Yuki Gambaryan, has expressed deep concern over his condition, noting that he is now wheelchair-bound and mostly bedridden.
“My husband Tigran left our home for a work trip almost six months ago, and I have no idea when he will be back. Now his health is in a shockingly bad condition and getting worse by the day,” Yuki said in an emotional appeal to the Nigerian government.
She continued, “The herniated disc in his back has worsened to the point where it might leave permanent damage and affect his ability to walk. My once fit and healthy husband, who loves working out, is now wheelchair-bound due to a treatable condition that has not been properly addressed.”
Lack of Medical Care
Gambaryan’s situation has been worsened by the lack of adequate medical care available to him in prison.
He is now taking blood thinners to prevent blood clots due to his prolonged bedridden state, and the prison is holding his medical records, further complicating his access to necessary care.
Previously, Gambaryan contracted malaria while in Nigerian detention and even collapsed in court during a hearing, underscoring the severity of his condition.
Yuki’s heartfelt plea also highlights the impact of Tigran’s detention on their family, especially their two young children.
“I recently found our five-year-old son crying on the floor of our living room. ‘I miss my daddy’ was all he said. He cannot understand why his father has been gone for so long. I had no idea how to comfort him. It was simply devastating,” she shared.
Yuki added, “Our ten-year-old daughter is trying her best to be strong in this traumatic situation we find ourselves in. Her resilience makes me proud and sad at the same time because this is not anything a child should endure.”
The Gambaryans, who live in Georgia, USA, last saw Tigran on February 24, just days before his detention.
He had been invited to Nigeria by the authorities for a meeting in Abuja, but the reasons for his prolonged detention remain unclear.
The Nigerian court went on holiday on July 16, and the next hearing in Gambaryan’s case has been adjourned to October 11.
Since the adjournment, his detention conditions have significantly worsened, raising serious concerns about his safety and well-being.
