Second Detainee Released Following Congressman's Visit To Nigeria

BUCKS COUNTY, PA — A U.S. citizen is back on U.S. soil after being released from prison by the Nigerian government.

Tigran Gambaryan, an executive with cryoptocurrency exchange Binance, was released October 24 on humanitarian grounds after eight months of imprisonment. He had been charged with tax evasion and money laundering. Click here to read more.

During a week long series of intelligence meetings in Liberia, Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Germany, Bucks County Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick had advocated for Gambaryan's release.

During the trip, Fitzpatrick went into the Nigerian prison to meet with Gambaryan, who
was sick with Malaria at the time. Fitzpatrick then called a meeting with the U.S. Embassy in Nigeria, and communicated with Nigerian officials urging for Tigran’s release.

"Today marks a long-overdue victory for justice and freedom. The release of Tigran Gambaryan comes as a profound relief for his family, his loved ones, and all of us who fought for his return," said Fitzpatrick in a statement.

"The injustices Tigran endured over the last eight months cannot become the standard for our U.S. nationals detained while abroad. We must stand firm against human rights abuses and ensure that no U.S. citizen is ever deprived of legal counsel or subjected to unjust imprisonment," said Fitzpatrick, who is chairman of the National Intelligence Subcommittee of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and Member of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly

"While Tigran’s health has suffered, he is now where he belongs—home, surrounded by family. We pray for him on his road to recovery," said the Congressman. "Although we celebrate this victory justice, our work continues until every American citizen held wrongfully detained abroad is brought home.”

During Fitzpatrick's week long series of critical and successful intelligence meetings in Liberia, Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and Germany, also met with Congolese officials to advocate for the release of another American. Acting as a surrogate in negotiations, Fitzpatrick saw through the successful release of the detained U.S. citizen from DRC custody on July 19.