Crypto supporter Rep. French Hill calls Binance’s Tigran ‘pawn in Nigerian political fight’

U.S. lawmakers are urgently advocating for the release of Binance’s executive Tigran Gambaryan, saying he’s just caught in a Nigerian political dispute.

Arkansas Republican Rep. French Hill keeps urging the Biden administration to secure the release of Tigran Gambaryan, a U.S. citizen and the head of financial crime compliance for Binance, detained in Nigeria amid what Hill describes as a “Nigerian political fight.”

In an interview with FOX Business, Hill, who’s also the vice chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, said he plans to consult with State Department officials regarding Gambaryan, who’s facing disputed charges including money laundering.

“Tigran is a pawn in a Nigerian political fight. He needs to be brought home to America where he belongs and Binance can deal with the Nigerians.”

French Hill

Hill’s advocacy intensified after visiting Gambaryan last week at Kuje prison near Abuja with Representative Chrissy Houlahan, a Pennsylvania Democrat. Gambaryan appeared “frail, fragile, emotionally drained and very weak,” Hill said, noting Gambaryan’s health concerns, including malaria and double pneumonia.

Binance executives Tigran Gambaryan and Nadeem Anjarwall were arrested in February and charged with criminal violations by the Nigerian government. As crypto.news reported, Gambaryan is still awaiting trial, while Anjarwall escaped custody but was extradited from Kenya to Nigeria. 

The two individuals went to Nigeria to discuss regulatory issues on behalf of Binance and the government’s recent crackdown on cryptocurrency trading platforms with officials. They were arrested and held by the government without their passports following the negotiations.