Tigran Gambaryan's health worsens, surgery now required

Detained Binanance executive Tigran Gambaryan's health continues to deteriorate, according to his wife Yuki, and requires two surgeries to remove his tonsils and correct a herniated disc in his back.

In the impassioned plea to release her husband, Yuki implored the Nigerian government to either release Tigran or allow him to seek the necessary medical attention to improve his health:

"The herniated disc in his back has worsened to the point where it might leave permanent damage and affect his ability to walk. My once fit and healthy husband, who loves working out, is now wheelchair-bound due to a treatable condition that has not been properly addressed."

Tigran has reportedly suffered several bouts of throat infection and pneumonia. The detained Binance executive also contracted malaria earlier this year, and the combined health problems have led to Tigran being confined to a wheelchair and bedridden.

This lack of mobility caused prison medical officials to put the Binance executive on blood thinners to prevent blood clotting, which could present a problem if Gambaryan undergoes the risky surgical procedure to alleviate the herniated disc in his back.

Certain charges dropped against Binance executives

Nigerian officials dropped tax charges against Gambaryan and his colleague, Nadeem Anjarwalla, in June. However, Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is still pursuing money laundering charges against both executives.

At the time, spokespeople for the Gambaryan family cited the dropping of the tax charges as evidence that the allegations never had any real weight, urging Nigerian officials to drop the remaining charges.

Currently, Nigeria’s court system has scheduled the final verdict in the case against both Binance executives for Oct. 11, 2024.

Geopolitical tensions on the horizon?

Gambaryan is an American citizen and a former special agent of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). His detainment by Nigerian authorities has garnered the attention of American lawmakers.

In July, Rep. Rich McCormick, a Congressman representing Georgia’s 6th Congressional district, introduced legislation calling on the United States government to treat the detainment of Gabaryan as a hostage situation and claimed the Binance executive was detained unlawfully.