They claim Gambaryan was illegally detained by the Nigerian government. They consider applying diplomatic pressure, which would increase his chances of being released. A bipartisan group of 18 US state attorneys general called on the Biden Administration to designate Binance executive Tigran Gambaryan as a hostage under the Robert Levinson Hostage Recovery and Accountability Act. Gambaryan, a U.S. citizen and former official, was illegally detained by the Nigerian government, according to prosecutors. In an open letter, prosecutors expressed “their deep concern for the life of Mr. Gambaryan, who is being unlawfully detained.” John M. Formella, Attorney General of New Hampshire, stated: “In light of the alarming circumstances surrounding the unlawful detention of Tigran Gambaryan in Nigeria, I join my fellow attorneys general in calling on the Biden Administration to designate him as a hostage.” ”. In Formella's opinion, Gambaryan is a “public servant who has dedicated himself to upholding the law and protecting American values.” “His continued detention without cause is not only a violation of his rights, but also represents a serious risk to his health and well-being,” the prosecutor warned. Tigran Gambaryan is part of Binance, the largest bitcoin and cryptocurrency exchange in the world, working in the regulatory compliance part. According to prosecutors, Gambaryan “devoted a long and distinguished career to international law enforcement.” Before Binance, he was a special agent for the United States Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and “worked to defend American values and enforce the law,” prosecutors say. Earlier this year, Gambaryan traveled to Nigeria at the invitation of local officials to discuss surveillance strategies for cryptocurrency markets. However, he was arrested without cause upon arrival, his passport was confiscated and he was held without formal charges, prosecutors reported. Since then, “he has been held in a notoriously violent Nigerian prison, where his health has seriously deteriorated. His lawyers have confirmed that he suffers from medical conditions that endanger his life,” they warned. In response to his arrest, Gambaryan sued Nigeria for violation of his rights, as reported by BitcoinDynamic. The lawsuit highlights the lack of legal basis and the mistreatment received during his imprisonment. Designating Gambaryan as a hostage under the Levinson Act would unlock critical resources and apply diplomatic pressure, increasing his chances of immediate release, legal scholars argue.