BlockBeats News, October 11, CoinDesk reported that a spokesperson for Binance executive Tigran Gambaryan said on Friday that a Nigerian court postponed his bail decision in September. Gambaryan’s lawyers filed a new bail application, citing his deteriorating health. Gambaryan has been in need of surgery since July 18 and suffered malaria, pneumonia and tonsillitis while in prison, as well as complications related to a herniated disc in his back. said Yuki Gamabryan, Gambaryan’s wife. “I am exhausted and deeply disappointed, but I will continue to fight for my husband’s legal freedom.”
BlockBeats previously reported that two senior US State Department officials revealed that the US government has urged Nigeria to release Binance employee Tigran Gambaryan. The detention has become an important factor affecting diplomatic relations between the United States and Nigeria. U.S. Secretary of State Blinken communicated with the Nigerian Foreign Minister on this matter in May. Other U.S. diplomats, including the ambassador to Nigeria, have also privately called for Gambaryan’s release with Nigeria’s president, finance minister, attorney general and trade minister. U.S. diplomats said Gambaryan, 40, who suffered health problems such as malaria and a herniated disc in his spine without receiving proper medical treatment, should be released on humanitarian grounds. His health deteriorated sharply in prison.
Gambaryan arrived in Nigeria in February to hold talks with local officials regarding Binance’s operations in the country. Nigerian authorities have accused Binance of harming the Nigerian economy by causing the naira exchange rate to collapse by allowing users to move funds out of the local currency. Authorities indicted Gambaryan and Binance on tax evasion and money laundering charges. The tax charges have now been dropped, but other charges remain.