The Chamber of Digital Commerce, a blockchain and crypto advocacy group, has urged U.S. President Joe Biden to assist in securing the release of a Binance executive “kidnapped” by the Nigerian government. The group warned that the Nigerian government’s arbitrary detention of Tigran Gambaryan might establish a dangerous precedent.
Group Urges US President Joe Biden to Secure Release of 'Kidnapped' Former Federal Agent
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Questioning the Arbitrary Detention of Binance Executive
The Chamber of Digital Commerce has urged President Joe Biden and the U.S. government to pressure the Nigerian government to release detained Binance executive Tigran Gambaryan. The pro- blockchain and cryptocurrency advocacy group warned that Gambaryan’s continued detention could set a dangerous precedent.
In a statement issued on March 15, the Chamber of Digital Commerce underscored the lack of criminal charges against Gambaryan. It also cited reports of the Nigerian authorities’ refusal to allow “unsupervised legal counsel” as further evidence of the “arbitrary nature of this detention.”
As recently reported by Bitcoin.com News, Nigerian authorities have detained Gambaryan and fellow Binance executive Nadeem Anjarwalla for more than 14 days. Some reports suggest that Nigerian authorities are using the detention to coerce Binance into paying a substantial fine. However, the cryptocurrency exchange has reportedly refused to capitulate.
Detention of Binance Executive Violates International Law
Meanwhile, the group has suggested that the Nigerian government’s treatment of Gambaryan could signal to other governments that U.S. citizens in the cryptocurrency industry can be subjected to “unlawful actions.” The group conceded that while Gambaryan’s continued detention – a former U.S. federal agent – is likely a violation of international law, it is not without precedent.
The group cites adversaries of the United States, such as Iran, Russia and China, that have similarly arrested or detained U.S. citizens. In many of these cases, the group noted that the arrests were or are carried out for political purposes or to gain leverage. Nigeria, however, is an ally of the United States that gets aid from America annually.
“While Iran, Russia and China have similarly arrested American citizens in their countries as leverage or on dubious arguments, this is notably very different: Nigeria is a U.S. ally and recipient of substantial U.S. foreign aid, exceeding $1 billion annually. The Biden Administration must act to secure Mr. Gambaryan’s release and return him to his family,” the advocacy group said.
In urging intervention from the Biden administration, the Chamber of Digital Commerce stated that the issue has transcended being merely a legal matter and has become an issue of “national dignity.”
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