Congressman Rich McCormick, who is also a licensed physician, expressed concern about the physical and mental health of his constituent Tigran Gambaryan, detained in Nigeria since February. McCormick shared his statement during an October 1 podcast.
"He's got malaria, he's dehydrated, he's got a degenerative disc disease in his back, he's got significant pain," said Mccormick. "I don't know if they don't have the ability to treat or they just don't wish to, but he's having a hard time sleeping, walking, just being healthy in general. Malaria's a horrible disease. Not to mention depression, anxiety from being separated from your family unjustly."
According to Forbes, Gambaryan, a former investigator for the U.S. federal government for ten years, was invited by Nigerian government officials to participate in compliance discussions in February as head of financial crime compliance for the global crypto exchange Binance. Nigerian officials accused Binance of causing the devaluation of the naira and detained Gambaryan without charging him with a crime. Authorities later charged him with financial crimes and moved him to Kuje Prison, where his health has reportedly deteriorated. He is struggling to walk due to an untreated herniated disc and has also suffered from malaria, pneumonia, and tonsillitis.
The Block reported that Gambaryan's attorneys filed a new bail application seeking his release on medical grounds, but Nigerian authorities are opposing the application and denying that he is suffering from health problems. A judge has ordered that Gambaryan be allowed to use a wheelchair. Binance has asked the U.S. government to secure Gambaryan's release on humanitarian grounds.
Researchers from Amnesty International described conditions in Nigerian prisons as "appalling," according to a press release from the organization. Cells are described as "squalid" and overcrowded, with overflowing toilets that are "little more than holes in the floor." Disease is said to be "rampant" due to unsanitary and crowded conditions. Inmates reported they could only access medical staff and supplies if they had enough money for bribes.
In July, McCormick filed a resolution with the House Foreign Affairs Committee urging the Nigerian government to release Gambaryan. According to the resolution, Gambaryan spent over 10 years working as a special agent for the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) before joining Binance. Nigerian government officials "admitted openly in court that Tigran is being tried in lieu of pursuing legal action against his employer," according to the resolution. The resolution said that the U.S. government should "formally declare Tigran Gambaryan as a 'U.S. citizen wrongfully detained by a foreign government'" and called on Nigeria to provide adequate medical care and ensure he receives due process.
McCormick represents Georgia's 6th Congressional District, according to his website. He is a U.S. military veteran and Emergency Room physician, serving on several committees including House Armed Services, Foreign Affairs, and Science, Space, and Technology.