A video of Binance compliance officer Tigran Gambaryan apparently refusing assistance while walking with crutches on his way to a trial in Nigeria has sparked outrage at X, with some users calling out the cryptocurrency exchange giant for “failing” its employee.
The Binance CEO reposted Gambarian’s video
Richard Tang reposted this Video which featured a former Internal Revenue Service (IRS) agent going to a Nigerian court. In the video, Gambarian is seen asking a Nigerian prison guard for assistance as he struggles to walk with crutches.
“I’m not okay! This is ****!” Gambaryan said the jail guard was told not to help him. He asked for a wheelchair at the confrontation, but his request appears to have been denied. “I am innocent! Why are you doing this to me?” he said.
Gambaryan then held the jail guard’s wrist. “Don’t catch me, please. You can walk,” the prison guard told the Binance compliance leader as he removed Gambarian’s hand. Gambaryan dragged his left leg and leaned against the wall for a while as he struggled to walk.
“This inhumane treatment of Tigran must end. He should be allowed to go home for medical treatment and be with his family,” Teng said of the video that has since been viewed nearly four million times.
Why are Gambarians in Nigerian custody?
Image was in detention With Nadeem Anjarwala, Binance Regional Manager for Africa in late February. At the time, Gambarian’s wife, Yuki, said Nigerian prosecutors had not provided information on whether Binance executives had been charged with criminal charges.
Anjarwala later escaped from Nigerian custody and details about his supposed extradition from Kenya are scarce. Both were accused of money laundering.
Gambarian’s wife has repeatedly asked for help to free her husband, stating that he had suffered several health problems during his imprisonment, including pneumonia and malaria.
In the latest hearing of his case, Gambarayan’s lawyers filed a fresh bail application based on health issues. His family spokesperson said Complications from a herniated disc Gambaryan was left in severe pain and almost unable to walk.
X users erupted over Gambaryan treatment
Cryptocurrency users on X took to the comments section of Teng’s post and expressed their frustration over the case of Gambarian, who has been held in Kuje prison since March.
“Nigeria is that A hostile place To investors,” said one user, apparently referring to the reason why Gambarian and Anjarwala traveled to Nigeria: to discuss Nigerian government issues with Binance.
One user suggested that Binance had “dragged” the Nigerian government “to the International Criminal Court (ICC)”.violation of his rights“
said Eljaboom, a leading blockchain influencer Treatment of Gambarians was “ridiculous,” noting how the Binance official was “nervous and exhausted.”
Many others urged Binance to seek help from “foreign parties” to get the compliance officer out of Nigeria. Crypto lawyer Irina Hever also joined calls for Gambarian’s release, noting how he “clearly” needs medical attention.
Binance not doing enough?
While many crypto users were furious over the Nigerian government’s handling of Gambarian’s case, many others directed their frustration at Binance, calling out the crypto titan for its failure to get its employee the help he needed.
DeFi content strategist @Ifeanyi specifically calls out Tang, saying tweeting without acting makes no sense at this point. “You and Binance have failed him as his employer,” he wrote.
Well-followed crypto coach @WisdomMatic had similar thoughts, to ask What Binance and Tange Gambarian have done since they were taken into custody.
Influencer Omo said that if Binance itself does not act towards its employee’s case, the crypto community will not win. “We win as a communityNot individuals,” he said.
One user didn’t mince words, saying that Binance is a “terrible” company because it is ignoring requests for one of its own, even with its billions of dollars in profits and widespread influence around the world.
The Nigerian government has yet to address concerns about Gambarian’s health, but has previously denied that it is not providing quality healthcare to the Binance executive.
Post ‘I’m not okay!’ Crypto Outcry over Binance’s Treatment of Tigran Gambarian in Nigeria appeared first International Business Times.