Binance CEO Richard Teng has called for the release of Tigran Gambaryan, the company's head of financial crime compliance, from a Nigerian prison to allow him to receive medical care. Teng shared his statement in an X post on September 3, more than six months after Gambaryan was detained.
"This inhumane treatment of Tigran must end," said Teng. "He must be allowed to go home for medical treatment and to be with his family."
According to CoinDesk, Gambaryan, a former U.S. federal agent, was invited by Nigerian government officials to travel to Abuja in February to participate in compliance discussions. Nigerian authorities accused Binance of devaluing the naira and placed Gambaryan under house arrest. He was later charged with financial crimes and transferred to Kuje prison, where his health has deteriorated. Gambaryan contracted malaria in May and collapsed in court; in June, he was pushed into a courtroom in a wheelchair. His wife stated that he is struggling to walk due to a herniated disc in his back and is at risk of "permanent damage" unless he receives proper medical treatment. Prison officials have not complied with a court order to release Gambaryan's medical records.
In a video that surfaced earlier this week, Gambaryan appeared "distressed" as he limped into a courtroom with a crutch after being denied the use of a wheelchair, The Block reported. In addition to the herniated disc, Gambaryan has suffered from malaria, pneumonia, and tonsillitis. His legal team said they have been unable to meet with him to prepare for his trial. According to his family, he was in "visible pain" and broke down crying during his latest court appearance.
Gambaryan's attorneys have filed a new bail application seeking his release on medical grounds. However, Nigerian authorities are opposing the application and denying that Gambaryan is suffering from health problems, The Block reported. A judge has ordered that Gambaryan be allowed to use a wheelchair. Binance has asked the U.S. government to secure Gambaryan's release on humanitarian grounds.
Gambaryan joined Binance in 2021 as the company's vice president of Global Intelligence and Investigations, according to Binance's website. He previously spent ten years as a special agent of the Internal Revenue Service—Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Cyber Crimes Unit in Washington, D.C., where he led several multi-billion-dollar cyber investigations including those into AlphaBay and the Mt. Gox hack.
Teng joined Binance in August 2021 according to Binance's website. He previously served as CEO of the Financial Services Regulatory Authority at Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), chief regulatory officer of the Singapore Exchange (SGX), and director of corporate finance at the Monetary Authority of Singapore. He became CEO of Binance in November 2023.
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