The family of Binance executive Tigran Gambaryan has expressed deep frustration and heartbreak over the ongoing detention of their son, a U.S. citizen, in Nigeria. Gambaryan, who was arrested by Nigerian authorities on February 26, 2024, has now been in custody for over 230 days, despite meeting all the legal requirements for bail on medical grounds. His family is pleading for his release, accusing the Nigerian government of unlawfully detaining him and denying him the chance to receive proper medical care.

Gambaryan’s family shared that he was detained by the Nigerian Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as part of an investigation related to Binance, the cryptocurrency exchange where he had been employed. According to the prosecutor in the case, Tigran is being held because Binance operates virtually, and as a former employee, he is the only individual they have to “hold on to” for the investigation. However, the family insists that Gambaryan had no decision-making role at Binance and is being unjustly scapegoated.

Responding to the court’s decision to deny her husband bail, Tigran’s wife, Yuki Gambaryan, expressed her disappointment in a statement shared with the media. “We all know that Tigran was never a decision-maker at Binance and that he is entirely innocent, but I am not surprised by this decision,” Yuki said. She emphasized the gravity of his medical condition, stating that it was inhumane to deny him the medical attention he desperately needs. “It is completely unjust to deny someone in Tigran’s condition the opportunity to seek appropriate medical help, and I just pray that when he is finally released, the damage he is suffering is not permanent.”

Yuki’s emotional plea highlighted the toll this situation has taken on their family. In a recent podcast with Yaya Jata Fanusie, she shared how the uncertainty of her husband’s fate has filled her with constant fear. She recounted how their five-year-old son, who struggles to understand his father’s absence, recently asked if a plane flying overhead was bringing his dad home. The podcast, released in early October, also featured commentary from Tigran’s friends and former colleagues, who echoed concerns about his wrongful detention.

In addition to public awareness efforts, such as a truck displaying messages about Gambaryan’s unlawful detention circulating around Washington, D.C., Yuki has called on the U.S. government to intervene. “I beg the U.S. government to recognize officially that Tigran is being unlawfully detained and to take immediate action against the Nigerian government unless they release him,” she implored. The family also shared the heartache of Tigran’s elderly mother, Knarik Gambaryan, who has been devastated by her son’s treatment. “They are treating my son not like a human,” she said, pleading with U.S. authorities to help bring him home. “He’s innocent. Just please bring my son home.”

According to the family’s statement, Tigran had initially traveled to Nigeria under assurances from the Nigerian government that he would be safe. However, during the meeting he was invited to, his passport was confiscated, and he was forced to pack his belongings from his hotel before being moved to a guest house. He was held there for nearly a month before facing charges along with Binance, after which he was transferred to the notorious Kuje prison.

During his detention, Gambaryan’s health has deteriorated severely. His wife detailed how he has been repeatedly denied access to legal counsel and critical medical treatment. His condition has worsened to the point that he now requires a wheelchair, which prison authorities frequently withhold. In addition to pneumonia and malaria, he suffers from a herniated disc and a respiratory infection, and he needs a tonsillectomy, which Yuki believes the prison is ill-equipped to perform.

Tigran has missed numerous significant family milestones during his time in detention, including his son’s fifth birthday, his first day of school, his 40th birthday, and his 15th wedding anniversary. His wife, overwhelmed with frustration and fear, is calling on the Nigerian government to grant him bail in accordance with the law. The family continues to fight for his release and prays for justice in the face of what they believe is an unlawful and unjust detention.