Investigators Drop Murder Charges Against St. Petersburg Businessman Ilya Traber

Aug. 31, 2026 Ilya Traber. fontanka.ru Investigators have dropped all charges against St. Petersburg businessman Ilya Traber over the 2020 contract killing of a local politician and business rival, Russian media reported Monday. The Investigative Committee, Russia’s top investigative body, “terminated the criminal prosecution” after finding Traber had no involvement in the killing, his attorney Igor Sochiyants told the state-run TASS news agency. “The murder charges against him have been dropped,” Sochiyants was quoted as saying. Traber, 75, now has the legal right to seek state compensation for his unlawful detention, according to the St. Petersburg outlet Fontanka. The exoneration follows Traber’s release from Moscow’s Lefortovo pre-trial detention center due to health concerns last Thursday. Fontanka, without citing sources, reported that Traber has since been holding a “series of meetings” with government officials and business figures. Russian authorities have not publicly commented on Traber’s release or exoneration. Traber was arrested on June 17 and charged with ordering the October 2020 murder of Alexander Petrov outside his home near the Leningrad region town of Vyborg. The Kremlin has previously confirmed Traber’s ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin during his early political career. Traber, who had built a shipping and port empire in northwestern Russia during the 1990s, reportedly surrendered ownership stakes in at least four major companies during his two months in detention. Read more about: Court cases , St. Petersburg Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more St. Petersburg Court Places Woman in Pre-Trial Detention for Attempted Murder of Drone Company Employee Law enforcement officials arrested the woman last week after she allegedly tried but failed to place an explosive device under the employee’s car. 1 Min read St. Petersburg Anti-War Teen Released Pending Trial on Wartime Censorship Charges Nineteen-year-old Daria Kozyreva faces up to five years in prison if convicted of “discrediting” Russia’s military. 1 Min read St. Petersburg Court Holds Session Inside Strip Club Authorities described the off-site session at the X.O. Men’s Club as an “official necessity” in a tongue-in-cheek statement released Thursday. 1 Min read Court Extends Russian Cafe Bombing Suspect’s Detention Daria Trepova was detained in April after a bomb planted inside a gilded bust she presented to blogger Vladlen Tatarsky exploded. 1 Min read