Regulation

Tigran Gambaryan Health Worsens, Binance Exec Denied Legal Access

Published

3 months ago

August 12, 2024

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The family of Tigran Gambaryan, an U.S. citizen and executive at Binance, is urgently calling on the Nigerian government to release him from detention. They have sounded alarm rapidly deteriorating health conditions. Gambaryan has been held in Kuje Prison since February 26. At the time, he was taken into custody after a meeting with Nigerian authorities in Abuja.

Binance Exec Tigran Gambaryan’s Family Pleads For Release

Since July 26, Tigran Gambaryan’s legal team has been unable to visit him at Kuje Prison. This is a violation of both the Nigerian Constitution and Section 45 of the Nigerian Prisons Regulations. Moreover, this section mandates that “all prisoners, other than prisoners under sentence, shall be allowed all reasonable opportunities daily of communicating with their friends or legal adviser, and they may write and receive letters.”

The denial of access to his legal representatives has raised concerns about his right to a fair trial and his overall well-being. Furthermore, Tigran Gambaryan’s health has significantly declined during his time in detention. He suffers from a herniated disc, a condition that has worsened in custody and now requires highly specialized and risky surgery.

In addition to this, the Binance exec has endured multiple throat infections and pneumonia, which have necessitated further surgery to remove his tonsils. His wife, Yuki Gambaryan, has expressed deep concern over his deteriorating condition. She noted that he is now wheelchair-bound and mostly bedridden.

“My husband Tigran left our home for a work trip almost six months ago, and I have no idea when he will be back. Now his health is in a shockingly bad condition and getting worse by the day,” Yuki said in a heartfelt plea to the Nigerian government.

She added, “The herniated disc in his back has worsened to the point where it might leave permanent damage and affect his ability to walk. My once fit and healthy husband, who loves working out, is now wheelchair-bound due to a treatable condition that has not been properly addressed.”

Lack Of Medical Care

Tigran Gambaryan’s situation has been exacerbated by the lack of medical care available to him in prison. He is now taking blood thinners to prevent blood clots due to his prolonged bedridden state. Furthermore, his medical records are being held by the prison. This further complicating his access to proper care.

Previously, Gambaryan contracted malaria while in Nigerian detention. Moreover, he even collapsed in court during a hearing, underscoring the severity of his condition. Hence, Yuki’s emotional plea highlights the impact of Tigran’s detention on their family, particularly their two young children.

“I recently found our five-year-old son crying on the floor of our living room. ‘I miss my daddy’ was all he said. He cannot understand why his father has been gone for so long. I had no idea how to comfort him. It was simply devastating,” she said. Yuki added,

“Our ten-year-old daughter is trying her best to be strong in this traumatic situation we find ourselves in. Her resilience makes me proud and sad at the same time because this is not anything a child should endure.”

The Gambaryans reside in Georgia, USA, and Tigran last saw his family on February 24, just days before detainment. He was initially invited to Nigeria by the authorities for a meeting in Abuja. However, the circumstances leading to his prolonged detention remain unclear.

The Nigerian court went on holiday on July 16. Subsequently, it adjourned the next hearing in the Binance exec’s case to October 11. However, since the adjournment, the conditions of his detention have worsened significantly, raising alarms about his safety and well-being.