Yuki Gambaryan Laments “Fear of Losing Tigran” in Wrenching Interview

• Yuki Gambaryan has offered insight into how her family deals with her husband’s absence.
• According to Yuki, it is becoming increasingly difficult to stay hopeful.
• Tigran Gambaryan is awaiting a decision on his second bail application.

For over 200 days , Tigran Gambaryan, Binance ‘s chief financial crime compliance officer and a celebrated former IRS special agent, has been detained in Nigeria and forced to live under harsh conditions in one of the country’s most notorious prisons for alleged crimes committed by his employers.

While the ordeal has undoubtedly taken a toll on Gambaryan, he is not alone in his suffering. The Binance man has a wife, Yuki Gambaryan, who he has been married to for 15 years, and they have two children together, who are five and 10 years old. The family’s suffering was recently made bare in a recent heart-wrenching interview. 

Yuki Gambaryan Bares All

“I’m not doing well mentally or physically,” Yuki conceded while speaking with former CIA Analyst Yaya Jata Fanusie on Illicit Edge’s Designated podcast in an episode aired on Tuesday, October 1 . A weary and distraught-looking Yuki disclosed this as she discussed the challenges of trying to go about her day worrying about the welfare of her husband while still being a functional mother to their children.

“I am having this constant fear of losing Tigran,” she lamented, adding, “What if he gets another malaria and die[s]?” 

Yuki cried that she couldn’t shake these intrusive thoughts amid growing concerns over Tigran’s health. 

Since Tigran was transferred to Nigeria’s infamous Kuje Prison in April 2024, he has come down with a range of illnesses, including malaria, pneumonia, and a recurring respiratory tract infection. At the same time, a pre-existing herniated disk condition has exacerbated to the point of leaving him largely bedridden . Yuki expressed fears of what could happen if Tigran experienced a blood clot.

Meanwhile, it is also becoming increasingly difficult for Yuki to hide the truth from her children, particularly her ten-year-old, who often asks, “Why is dad still there?”

While Yuki maintains that their youngest child remains “oblivious,” she notes that he misses his father, who she describes as the “loving and affectionate” one in the household.

“Mommy, look, there’s an airplane. Is daddy on that airplane?” a sobbing Yuki asserted the five-year-old asked on one trip to the park after seeing a plane fly over.

U.S. Government the Only Hope?

Yuki pointed to the U.S. government when asked what gave her hope in the situation.

“My only hope in this situation is the help I can get from the U.S. government,” Yuki submitted, adding, "I believe they have the ability, power and leverages to resolve these kinds of issues, so that gives me slight hope, but I've got to say — it's getting harder and harder to stay hopeful,” she added.

During the interview, Yuki disclosed that she hoped the State Department would soon designate Tigran as “wrongfully detained,” per the 2020 Levinson Act. Invoking the act will signal intensified efforts to secure Tigran’s release, which could include sanctions against Nigeria.

While waiting for the State Department to take this step, Yuki noted that she had gotten favorable responses from her state representative, Congressman Rich McCormick, who co-authored a formal resolution calling for Tigran’s release. At the same time, she noted that several U.S. officials were bringing up the matter in communication with Nigerian officials, likely referring to reported efforts by top U.S. diplomats, including Secretary of State Anthony Blinken.

Yuki’s latest interview comes as Tigran awaits a decision on his second bail application.

Gambaryan In Urgent Need of Medical Care

On August 28, Gambaryan’s lawyers again requested bail for the Binance executive, calling for release on medical grounds. The Nigerian Federal High Court Abuja held a hearing for this bail application on September 4, as observed by DailyCoin.

Citing Gambaryan’s herniated disk condition and anxiety, lawyers argued that he needed specialist intervention beyond the scope of what the Nigerian Correctional Service could provide. Moreover, they argued that Gambaryan needed this medical care, specifically lumbar surgery, urgently, citing a July medical report that had allegedly been kept under wraps by prison officials and the prosecution.

On the other hand, the prosecution argued that the Nigerian Correctional Service could cater to Gambaryan’s needs. They further claimed that the Binance executive refused treatment to force a transfer.

Justice Emeka Nwite set October 9 to rule on the matter, ignoring the defense’s protests about the issue’s time sensitivity.

Gambaryan stands trial in Nigeria for money laundering charges tied to Binance. He had also faced a separate tax evasion case , but his name has since been dropped from the suit following Binance’s decision to appoint an agent in the country.

On the Flipside 

• The U.S. State Department has disclosed that it is still investigating the Gambaryan case for wrongfulness.
• Nigeria is a major U.S. ally and trade partner.
• Justice Nwite had denied Gambaryan bail in May 2024 , deeming him a flight risk even though his travel documents have been in the custody of the National Security Adviser since February 2024.

Why This Matters 

Tigran Gambaryan is a celebrated crypto investigator credited with contributing to several major crypto crime bursts, including in Nigeria. Gambaryan’s detention raises concerns for other U.S. workers abroad.

Catch up with all the details in the Tigran Gambaryan detention saga:
Binance’s Gambaryan Still Detained After 6 Months: Where Are the Answers?

See how TON dominated other Layer 1 chains in September:
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