Binance executive Tigran Gambaryan is in a worsening health crisis while locked up in Nigeria. The U.S. citizen, who’s been in Kuje prison since April 8, is now in desperate need of multiple surgeries.
According to his wife, Yuki Gambaryan, his condition has rapidly declined, and the Nigerian authorities are dragging their feet on providing him the necessary medical attention.
Tigran, who was once in top physical shape, is now wheelchair-bound, bedridden, and at serious risk of developing life-threatening blood clots. His wife says:
“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.”
She’s calling for immediate intervention before it’s too late.
Tigran’s legal team blocked as health deteriorates
The situation took a turn for the worse after Tigran’s court hearing on July 16 in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital. Brought in a wheelchair, he was visibly in bad shape. The court then decided to go on holiday until October 11, leaving Tigran in limbo.
To make matters worse, his legal team hasn’t been allowed to visit him since July 26. But so far, nothing has happened. In the meantime, his health continues to spiral out of control.
Tigran’s back problem, a herniated disc, requires risky surgery, but it’s been ignored. The poor conditions in Kuje prison have only made things worse, leading to repeated throat infections and pneumonia.
Now, he also needs surgery to remove his tonsils. And because he’s mostly bedridden, doctors have put him on blood thinners to avoid clots.
Adding to the nightmare, the prison is still holding onto his medical records despite a court order demanding they be released.
The family say they are at their wit’s end, fearing that without proper medical care, Tigran’s life is on the line.
Ignored court orders, calls for help
Tigran’s been charged with money laundering, accused of helping Binance move $35 million in illicit funds. Both Tigran and Binance deny the charges, but the trial has been anything but smooth.
During the first day of proceedings back in May, Tigran collapsed in the courtroom, sending alarm bells ringing about his health.
His condition has only worsened since then, and his appearance during subsequent court sessions has been described as emaciated and weak.
The U.S. Congress has even stepped in, urging President Joe Biden to get involved and bring Tigran back to the U.S. But so far, the Nigerian authorities have shown little concern for the dire state of his health.
Justice Nwite, visibly frustrated by the lack of action, issued a bench arrest warrant for the Kuje Prison director on July 16.
The reason? Failure to produce Tigran’s medical test reports. Yet, despite these repeated court orders, nothing has changed.
Prison officials and the Nigerian information ministry continue to claim that Tigran is receiving proper care, but this couldn’t be further from the truth.
According to American lawmakers who visited him recently, the Binance executive is living in “horrible prison conditions” that are taking a severe toll on his already fragile health.
The Tigran family is now left with no choice but to plead for international help. But whether the Nigerian authorities will comply remains a big question mark.
