Detained Binance Employee, Gambaryan’s Health ‘Deteriorates In Nigerian Detention’, Arrives In Court In Wheelchair

Published

2 years ago

July 17, 2024

Tigran Gambaryan, a Binance employee, was wheeled into court in a wheelchair due to his deteriorating health in Nigerian detention, his wife Yuki confirmed on Tuesday.
She said that despite complaining of severe back pain, the prison authorities have not provided adequate care for his condition.
“I am heartbroken to see my once fit and healthy husband reduced to such a condition,” said his wife Yuki Gambaryan.
“This ordeal has taken a severe toll on him, leaving him in so much pain that he can hardly walk.
“I do not understand why this is being allowed to continue. Tigran is innocent. All he did was dutifully travel to Nigeria for a meeting. Now our lives have been turned upside down and his health is at serious risk.”
The trial has been adjourned to October, and Tigran’s lawyers are calling for his release on humanitarian grounds.
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“Tigran’s health is at serious risk, and we urge the Nigerian authorities to release him urgently,” said his lawyer.
“He has been detained for 141 days, and his condition is worsening by the day.”, the lawyer added.
His publcist in a statement said; “Tigran Gambaryan had to be wheeled into court by his lawyers in a wheelchair today as his health continues to deteriorate in Nigerian detention. For several weeks Tigran has been complaining to the prison authorities about pain associated with a herniated disc in his back but they have not provided adequate care for his condition. He is in severe pain and is hardly able to walk.

This comes after he has already had Malaria and double pneumonia whilst under the care of the Kuje detention facility. Despite several orders by the judge, Justice Emeka Nwite, the prison authorities continue to refuse to release his medical records and have provided no explanation as to why.

At the hearing today, Binance’s lawyers began their cross examination of the second witness presented by the EFCC from the Central Bank of Nigeria. The witness has made it clear that he has never even met Tigran.

Tigran has been detained for 141 days since February 26th. He was invited to Nigeria by the Nigerian authorities for a meeting to understand regulations and licensing, as well as continued collaboration with law enforcement agencies. He received several assurances that he would be safe. Tigran has no decision-making authority at Binance and is simply an employee of the company.

Speaking from Georgia (USA), his wife Yuki Gambaryan said “I am heartbroken to see my once fit and healthy husband reduced to such a condition. This ordeal has taken a severe toll on him, leaving him in so much pain that he can hardly walk. I do not understand why this is being allowed to continue. Tigran is innocent. All he did was dutifully travel to Nigeria for a meeting. Now our lives have been turned upside down and his health is at serious risk. I am pleading with the Nigerian authorities to urgently release my husband on humanitarian grounds. This situation is destroying him. I need him safely home with us right now.”