Tigran Gambaryan, a high-ranking Binance executive, has been held in Nigeria since February. His bail hearing has now been pushed to October, following another delay in the legal process. According to a statement shared by a family spokesperson on September 4, the ruling on Gambaryan’s bail application has been postponed until October 9. Gambaryan, who leads financial crime compliance at Binance, was arrested in February and accused of tax evasion and money laundering.
Health Concerns for Gambaryan in Custody
Family members, including his wife Yuki, have raised concerns about Gambaryan’s health, which has worsened during his time in custody. A video surfaced on social media after his court appearance on September 2, showing him struggling to walk with no assistance from guards.
His legal team has filed a motion for bail, citing poor treatment and a lack of medical care for his deteriorating health. Gambaryan has now been in custody for over six months.
As a U.S. citizen and former IRS special agent, Gambaryan’s detention has sparked outrage among lawmakers and crypto industry leaders. They argue that he has been wrongfully held and are pushing for his release. A petition organized by his wife to bring him back to the U.S. has already gathered over 5,400 signatures.
Growing Pressure on Crypto Executives like Binance
This case is part of a larger trend in 2024, where authorities in various countries have targeted top executives in the tech and crypto industries. On August 24, French police arrested Telegram CEO Pavel Durov in a money laundering investigation.
Another Binance executive, Nadeem Anjarwalla, who was also detained in Nigeria alongside Gambaryan, managed to escape to Kenya. Nigerian authorities reportedly tried to extradite him back to face charges.
Although Nigeria’s tax authorities dropped the tax evasion charges against both Gambaryan and Anjarwalla in June, they still face accusations of money laundering and could appear in court for these charges.
