A group of 18 U.S. attorneys general recently reached out to President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken. They’re asking for help in securing the release of Tigran Gambaryan, an executive at Binance, who is currently detained in Nigeria.

The request comes after Gambaryan’s trial was postponed due to his worsening health. In a letter dated October 18, the attorneys general, led by Utah's Sean D. Reyes, urged the administration to officially label Gambaryan as a hostage. They believe his detention falls under the Robert Levinson Hostage Recovery and Hostage-Taking Accountability Act.

These officials are deeply concerned about Gambaryan’s health. They claim he’s being held in one of Nigeria’s most dangerous prisons, facing life-threatening conditions.

“Gambaryan’s life is in immediate danger,” they wrote. “His health has severely deteriorated during his imprisonment. He has been denied treatment for multiple bouts of malaria and pneumonia, and his untreated herniated disc has left him immobile.”

Reyes emphasized the urgency of the situation. He stated that Nigerian authorities are unlawfully holding Gambaryan in potentially deadly circumstances. He framed this issue as a humanitarian concern, not a political one.

“As attorneys general, many of us oversee criminal justice matters and serve as law enforcement leaders in our communities. Tigran Gambaryan is one of these heroes,” Reyes added.

Notably, the coalition raised concerns that Nigerian authorities might be using Gambaryan to pressure Binance. They urged the Biden administration to designate him as a hostage. This designation could unlock additional diplomatic resources to help secure his release.

“The Levinson Act was designed for cases like this, where U.S. citizens are unlawfully detained for political or financial leverage. Tigran Gambaryan’s situation fits this profile, and the time to act is now — before this unlawful detention becomes a tragedy,” they wrote.

This letter was sent on the same day a Nigerian High Court postponed Gambaryan’s trial to October 25, citing his inability to attend due to health issues. His legal battle with Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has been ongoing since his detention in February, where he faces money laundering charges.

Meanwhile, Binance has expressed its willingness to cooperate with Nigeria. However, they insist Gambaryan should be allowed to return home. Since his arrest, reports indicate his health has rapidly declined. He has suffered from malaria, pneumonia, tonsillitis, and a herniated disc, which now confines him to a wheelchair.