As the United Nations General Assembly convenes this week, we are also marking a grim milestone—seven months since Tigran Gambaryan, a devoted husband, father, and former U.S. government official, has been unjustly held captive in Nigeria. His situation grows increasingly dire with each passing day, as his health continues to deteriorate while the U.S. government, under the Biden-Harris administration, remains alarmingly silent.
Tigran Gambaryan is not just another name lost in the chaos of geopolitical games. He is a man who spent over a decade in the U.S. government fighting for law and order, tirelessly pursuing bad actors and establishing processes to ensure justice was upheld. A globally recognized expert in law enforcement, Tigran’s contributions have helped protect American interests abroad and at home. He is also a remarkable father to two young children, a loving husband, and a son who deserves to return home to his family.
However, today, Tigran finds himself trapped in an unjust system far away from the safety of the U.S., in Nigeria, where he has been held for over six months. His health has been in rapid decline. Suffering from an untreated herniated disc, severe tonsillitis, and other illnesses, Tigran is barely able to move and must drag himself from his cell due to being denied a wheelchair. His condition has worsened to the point where he is seen on crutches, as shown in this recent video.
He has also battled malaria and double pneumonia, all while being refused adequate medical care. To make matters worse, his legal team has been denied access to his medical records, and Nigerian authorities continue to obstruct any efforts to bring him relief.
Tigran’s wife’s heart-wrenching plea for his release is a painful reminder of the human toll this situation has taken. Her words highlight the sheer anguish and helplessness felt by a family that should not have to fight this battle alone.
Why has the U.S. government, particularly the Biden-Harris administration, failed to act decisively? Why is a man who dedicated his life to serving the American public being abandoned in his darkest hour? The State Department has privately expressed that Tigran cannot be declared unlawfully detained until his legal proceedings in Nigeria are concluded. However, this rationale rings hollow when you consider cases like that of Evan Gershkovich, a journalist detained in Russia, who was declared unlawfully detained just days after his arrest—well before any legal proceedings were concluded.
The lack of action is not just disappointing—it’s unacceptable. The U.S. government should be pulling every diplomatic lever available, including threatening the cessation of foreign aid, to bring Tigran home. As noted this week, the international community, including UN member states, must also pressure Nigeria to release him.
What Tigran needs is not just words of support, but concrete action. It’s time for the Biden-Harris administration to step up and fight for one of its own.
Join the call to bring Tigran home. Sign the petition here and demand that the U.S. government stop allowing American citizens to be used as bargaining chips on the global stage.
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