On September 13, two senior US State Department officials revealed that the US government is urging Nigerian officials to release Binance executive Tigran Gambaryan, whose lawyers are pressuring the US State Department to classify Gambaryan as a "wrongful detention". Gambaryan was arrested in Nigeria in February, seven months later, and is currently facing serious health problems in prison. The detention has become an important factor in diplomatic relations between the United States and Nigeria. Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with Nigeria's foreign minister about the matter in May. Other American diplomats, including the ambassador to Nigeria, have also privately called for Gambaryan's release with Nigeria's president, finance minister, attorney general, and trade minister. Gambaryan arrived in Nigeria in February for talks with local officials about Binance's operations in the country. Nigerian authorities accused Binance of damaging the Nigerian economy by allowing users to move money out of the local currency, the naira, causing the exchange rate to collapse. Authorities charged Gambaryan and Binance with tax evasion and money laundering. The tax charges have been dropped, but other charges continue. Gambaryan appeared in court last week to apply for bail to seek medical treatment. If granted, he will be released when his trial begins in October. He has denied all wrongdoing.