St. Petersburg Businessman Ilya Traber Released From Detention – Fontanka

Aug. 28, 2026 Ilya Traber in court. @moscowcourts / Telegram Russian investigators have released Ilya Traber, a prominent St. Petersburg businessman with alleged ties to President Vladimir Putin, from pre-trial detention, the news outlet Fontanka reported Friday. The investigation reportedly justified the decision to release Traber based on a “sharp decline” in his health. The businessman, however, still faces charges of organized murder and arms trafficking. Traber, 75, was arrested and placed in pre-trial detention in mid-June. He and his longtime business partner, Vladimir Danilenko, are accused of hiring two men to carry out the 2020 contract killing of businessman and politician Alexander Petrov. Traber first drew public scrutiny for his ties to the Russian president during Putin’s early political career. In 2011, Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that Traber had met with the Kremlin leader in the 1990s to discuss an oil terminal project. At the time, Putin was working in the St. Petersburg mayor’s office. Years later, Peskov said Putin knew Traber but could not confirm if the two were on friendly terms. Traber, who had built a shipping and port empire in northwestern Russia during the 1990s, has reportedly surrendered ownership stakes in at least four major companies during his two months in detention. There has been no official confirmation of Traber’s release from law enforcement agencies. According to Fontanka, he walked out of Moscow’s Lefortovo prison on Thursday evening and was traveling back to St. Petersburg. Read more about: St. Petersburg , Court cases 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