A group of 18 state attorneys general has called on President Joe Biden to intervene in the case of Binance Exec Tigran Gambaryan, a Binance executive detained in Nigeria since February 2024. The attorneys have asked Biden to apply the Robert Levinson Hostage Recovery and Hostage-Taking Accountability Act to Gambaryan to consider him a hostage.
US Attorneys Urge Biden To Secure Binance Exec’s Release
In a joint letter sent October 18, the state attorneys general raised growing concern over Binance Exec Gambaryan’s detention without charges. Gambaryan, a US citizen, a retired police officer was arrested by the Nigerian police and has been in custody for more than eight months and his legal status remains questionable.
The lawyers say that his detention is unlawful and have called on the Biden administration to act quickly to secure his release.
The initiator of the letter, Attorney General John Formella, noted that the situation was critical, stressing that “his continued detention without any reason is not only unlawful but also threatens his life.”
Health Concerns Intensify
During his detention Binance Exec Gambaryan’s health has greatly declined. He was in the limelight on October 18 when he did not appear physically in court for a hearing due to his poor health. The hearing has now been scheduled for 25th October.
His legal representatives noted that Tigran Gambaryan suffers from life-threatening diseases and has been provided with inhuman treatment in the prison.
A video of Binance Exec Gambaryan that was posted in early September showed him attempting to walk without the use of a wheelchair, which incensed the Binance team. Binance CEO Richard Teng demanded that Gambaryan be released immediately and described his treatment as “inhuman” on his Twitter page.
Calls for Hostage Designation
The attorneys general are asking the Biden administration to formally designate Gambaryan’s detention as a hostage situation under the Robert Levinson Hostage Recovery and Hostage Taking Accountability Act. This would allow the US Government to exert more diplomatic pressure on the Nigerian Government and may lead to faster release of Sowore.
Subsequently, this move has been also supported by the US congressmen, including Representative Rich McCormick who introduced a resolution in Congress in July to recognize Gambaryan’s arrest as a hostage situation.
The U.S. State Department has reportedly been engaged in ongoing discussions with Nigerian officials, though little progress has been made in securing Gambaryan’s release. The attorneys general’s letter represents a new push for more decisive action from the federal government. With Gambaryan’s health rapidly deteriorating, pressure is mounting for the Biden administration to take immediate diplomatic steps to resolve the situation and bring the Binance executive home.
The next court hearing for Gambaryan is scheduled for October 25, though his lawyers have expressed concerns over whether he will
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