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Foreign Affairs Committee urges Nigeria to release detained U.S. citizen Tigran Gambarian
Summary
The committee unanimously moved H.Res.1348 urging the Nigerian government to release U.S. citizen Tigran Gambarian, citing deteriorating health and appealing for consular access and wrongfully detained designation under the Levinson Act.
The House Foreign Affairs Committee favorably reported a bipartisan resolution urging the government of Nigeria to release and provide consular access to Tigran Gambarian, a U.S. citizen and Binance employee who has been detained in Nigeria since February.
In remarks introducing H.Res.1348, the sponsor said Gambarian was detained after traveling to Nigeria for business and that he has been held without charge for months in Kuje Prison, where he has suffered malaria, pneumonia and severe back pain from herniated discs. The sponsor asked colleagues to support urging the Nigerian government to release Gambarian on humanitarian grounds, seek unfettered consular access, and for the State Department to consider a “wrongful detention” designation under the Levinson Act.
Members on both sides of the aisle supported the resolution and recounted congressional and diplomatic efforts to press for Gambarian’s release. Representative Meeks said the State Department has been engaged and that the Committee should continue pressing Nigerian authorities to respect Gambarian’s rights and ensure medical care. Representative Steve Hill and others urged immediate humanitarian action and described sustained bipartisan outreach to secure his release.
The committee voted to report the resolution to the House with a favorable recommendation. Sponsors asked that the House move promptly on the matter and that the State Department intensify consular efforts.
