The wife of Binance executive Tigran Gambaryan has called on the U.S. State Department to intervene as her husband’s health deteriorates in a Nigerian prison.
Yuki Gambaryan stated that her husband suffers from intense pain due to a herniated disc, is unable to walk, and is frequently afflicted with respiratory infections. Additionally, he requires a tonsillectomy. Her concerns were expressed in a podcast episode titled Designated, hosted by Yaya Fanusie and released by Illicit Edge.
Tigran Gambaryan, formerly an agent for the U.S. Internal Revenue Service, was detained alongside another Binance executive, Nadeem Anjarwalla, upon arriving in Nigeria in February. They faced accusations regarding illegal profit transactions. Anjarwalla managed to escape custody on March 22.
During the podcast, Yuki Gambaryan emphasized that the U.S. government is her only hope for her husband's return, stating, "I believe they have the ability, power, and leverage to resolve these kinds of issues." However, she expressed that maintaining hope is becoming increasingly difficult.
Efforts are underway in the U.S. House to secure Tigran Gambaryan's release. The House Foreign Affairs Committee recently passed resolution H.Res. 1348, demanding his release and acknowledging his wrongful detention. This resolution requests that the Nigerian government provide unrestricted medical care and urges the U.S. State Department to utilize all available resources to secure his release.
On the podcast, Yuki Gambaryan shared the emotional toll on their family. She recounted the last message from her husband, where he mentioned checking into a hotel in Abuja. After 24 hours without contact, she received a call from the U.S. Embassy informing her of his detention. Their children, particularly their 10-year-old, continue to ask about their father, compounding Yuki's struggles to provide answers.
Yuki lamented, "It's getting harder and harder to keep things from my 10-year-old." She also mentioned their younger child, who misses his father but remains unaware of the situation's gravity.
