The health of Tigran Gambaryan, a detained Binance executive, has taken a critical turn, according to his wife, Yuki.
Gambaryan, who has been held in Nigeria since February 2024, now requires urgent medical surgeries to address severe health issues that have developed during his detention.
Gambaryan’s condition has steadily worsened over the months, and his wife is pleading with Nigerian authorities to either release him or permit him to seek the necessary medical treatment.
He needs two surgeries: one to remove his tonsils and another to treat a herniated disc in his back, which has become so severe that it threatens his ability to walk. Once an active and fit individual, Gambaryan is now wheelchair-bound due to his untreated condition.
In addition to his back issues, Gambaryan suffered from repeated throat infections, pneumonia, and a malaria infection earlier this year.
His deteriorating health has left him bedridden, and medical officials in the prison have placed him on blood thinners to prevent clotting, a precaution that complicates the surgery he desperately needs.
This situation has not only raised concerns among his family but has also caught the attention of American lawmakers.
Gambaryan, a U.S. citizen and former IRS special agent, is at the centre of a case that has attracted significant geopolitical interest.
In July, U.S. Congressman Rich McCormick introduced legislation urging the U.S. government to treat Gambaryan’s detention as a hostage situation, citing concerns about the legality of his imprisonment.
Although some charges against Gambaryan and his colleague Nadeem Anjarwalla were dropped by Nigerian authorities in June, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission continues to pursue money laundering charges against them.
The final verdict in the case is expected on October 11, 2024.
