Two U.S. lawmakers, French Hill and Chrissy Houlahan, have added their voices to calls for the release of jailed Binance executive Tigran Gambaryan. The lawmakers made this call shortly after visiting Gambaryan at Nigeria’s notorious Kuje Prison. Hill believes that Gambaryan is being wrongfully detained on charges related to money laundering.
US Lawmaker Urges Nigerian Government to Grant Humanitarian Release for Jailed Binance Employee
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Prison Officials Accused of Denying Gambaryan Adequate Medical Attention
U.S. House of Representatives members French Hill and Chrissy Houlahan have called on Nigerian authorities to release Tigran Gambaryan, a Binance executive currently held in the notorious Kuje Prison. The lawmakers made this plea after visiting Gambaryan and witnessing the harsh conditions at the facility.
Hill, a pro- crypto Republican representing Arkansas’s 2nd congressional district, confirmed that Gambaryan is suffering from Malaria and “double” pneumonia. He also alleged that Nigerian prison officials have denied adequate medical attention to the Binance employee.
The visit by Hill and Houlahan occurred shortly after Nigeria dropped tax evasion charges against Gambaryan and fellow Binance employee Nadeem Anjarwalla. This decision followed Binance’s appointment of a local representative to address the charges on its behalf.
Lawmaker Says Binance Employee Is Wrongfully Detained
Despite welcoming the dismissal of tax evasion charges, Hill maintains that Gambaryan’s detention is unjust.
“Although I am pleased that Nigeria dropped tax evasion charges against Tigran on 6/14, it’s my view that he’s being wrongfully detained on charges related to money laundering,” Hill said.
The U.S. lawmaker also claimed that Gambaryan was working as a contract employee when Nigerian law enforcement apprehended him earlier this year. This claim appears to support Binance’s argument that Gambaryan has no decision-making role hence the call for his release.
Meanwhile, Hill concluded his statement by asking Nigerian authorities to grant Gambaryan a humanitarian release and drop the remaining charges.
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