Yuki Gambaryan, the wife of detained Binance executive Tigran Gambaryan, made a desperate plea for her husband’s freedom in a recent podcast appearance, revealing his harrowing ordeal in a Nigerian jail, where he has spent over 200 days in custody.
Speaking with former CIA Analyst, Yaya Jata Fanusie on Illicit Edge’s podcast, Oct. 1, Yuki spilled her heart out on the lengthy and unjust detention of her husband. She explained, “I’m not doing well mentally or physically.”
Gambaryan is currently imprisoned in Nigeria’s notorious Kuje prison, a destination for some of the country’s most hardened criminals and terrorist groups. After initially being detained back in late February, Gambaryan was moved to the medium-security jail in April.
His detention in Kuje was spurred by the daring escape from Nigeria by his colleague, Nadeem Anjarwalla in late March. Since arriving at Kuje, Gambaryan’s physical condition has declined at a rapid pace. Not only has he reportedly come down with malaria, pneumonia, and a respiratory infection. Yuki says that she fears for his life.
“I am having this constant fear of losing Tigran. I am constantly worried about what if he gets another malaria and dies?”
Yuki explains that his health is deteriorating rapidly and that he is not receiving adequate care.
“The prison stopped giving him blood thinners to prevent blood clots for whatever reason. He’s not receiving any treatment for his back.” Adding, “He’s constantly getting infections that now he needs his tonsils removed, but I don’t know where or how,”
Matters are further compounded by a pre-existing degenerative disc disease in his spine and concerns over blood clots. In July, images of Gambaryan attending a court hearing in a wheelchair surfaced. This came just a few weeks following his collapse during a hearing on May 23.
In September, uncomfortable footage of Gambaryan distressed and struggling to walk with a crutch emerged.
Thankfully, a growing number of voices within the walls of the U.S. government began pushing to bring the “wrongfully detained” American citizen home.
Yuki explains she’s received support from the U.S. government. Notably, she praised U.S. Representative Rich McCormick. He was one of the co-authors of a bill that called on the U.S. State Department to escalate Gambaryan’s status to that of a “hostage situation“.
Praising McCormick, other senators, and staffers who have been “very responsive”, she adds that “multiple government officials” have been calling on Nigeria directly to bring Gambaryan home. Also appearing on the podcast, Rep. McCormick explained what he and his team are doing to further aid in the effort.
He explains that members of the Intel Committee and Foreign Affairs Committee have taken a special interest in the case, notably members who have both visited Gambaryan in detention.
“We brought it before the committee that the State Department elevates this to the highest level. It gives them special protections, special rights. It also encourages the Nigerian government to basically hand him over to counsel, giving him unfettered access to medical care and lawyers.”
Earlier in the podcast, Yuki explained that “for a while,” the prison had put a ban on lawyer visits, which appears to have been lifted “very recently.” This could be a reflection of these efforts, which would suggest some progress has been made.
In July, the courts dropped tax charges against Gambaryan as part of the investigation into Binance’s operations in Nigeria. At that same time, the remaining money laundering trial was postponed until Oct. 2024, extending Gamabryan’s detainment even further. Yuki explains:
“I understand that they’re having issues with Binance, and I believe they can resolve those issues however they want. But they do not need Tigran there.”
In mid-Sept., Nigerian outlet Nairametrics reported some interesting developments. Notably, in response to the Nigerian government’s regulatory frameworks for crypto platforms, a Binance spokesperson told Nairametrics it would fall in line under two conditions.
This is a particularly odd move from Binance which shuttered operations in Nigeria this year amid lofty allegations from the Nigerian government. Ultimately, this snowballed into what has become an unfortunately long legal battle with Gambaryan as the centerpiece for negotiations.
Furthermore, it’s also odd that the Nigerian government would now be willing to let Binance register properly under its revised crypto frameworks.