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Tough Eight Months for Binance’s Tigran Gambaryan
Tigran Gambaryan, a key figure at Binance, has finally left Nigeria after spending eight tough months in detention. He had been facing serious charges of tax evasion and money laundering, but the last of these charges was dropped, allowing him to return home.
Family Relieved After Long Ordeal
Gambaryan’s family is relieved that he’s finally free. His wife, Yuki, said the experience was a “living nightmare” and expressed deep gratitude to the U.S. government for helping secure his release. However, his health suffered greatly during his time in detention, with reports of pneumonia, malaria, and a herniated disc that might require surgery.
Timeline of Events
Gambaryan and his colleague Nadeem Anjarwalla were in Nigeria for business talks in February when Nigerian authorities detained them. They were accused of handling “suspicious” financial activities and were charged with tax evasion and money laundering involving over $35 million.
Escape and Legal Struggles
Anjarwalla managed to flee the country in March, reportedly using his Kenyan passport, while Gambaryan remained in custody. After months of legal delays and deteriorating health, the tax evasion charges were dropped in June, and now, in October, the final money laundering charges have also been dismissed.
Health Problems in Detention
While in prison, Gambaryan’s health got worse. He was seen struggling to walk to court in a video from September, which led to public outrage and criticism from Binance CEO Richard Teng. U.S. lawmakers even visited Gambaryan in prison and reported that he had lost significant weight and was in poor condition.
Corruption Allegations and U.S. Support
Binance had already pulled its services from Nigeria back in March, and there were rumors that Nigerian officials had tried to pressure Binance into paying a settlement. During his detention, Gambaryan had strong support from U.S. lawmakers, with several calling for his immediate release.
