backed oil tycoon among St. Petersburg’s crime bosses. Here’s his story. — Meduza

Key Points:

• Ilya Traber, a prominent St. Petersburg businessman with extensive interests in oil ports and energy, was detained by Russia’s FSB on June 17 in connection with the 2020 murder of lawmaker Alexander Petrov; his business partner Vladimir Danilenko was also arrested.
• Traber, nicknamed “the Antique Dealer,” has longstanding ties to Vladimir Putin dating back to the 1990s when Putin was deputy mayor of St. Petersburg and oversaw Traber’s business ventures, including monopolies in antiques and oil sectors.
• Despite widespread journalistic allegations linking Traber to criminal networks and violent turf wars in St. Petersburg, he had never faced legal charges until now, making his detention an extraordinary development possibly indicating shifts in Russia’s power dynamics.
• The murder of Alexander Petrov involved a sniper attack at his estate, but prior to Traber’s arrest, no suspects or charges had been publicly disclosed; the case may serve as a pretext to target Traber’s vast assets and influence in strategic industries.
• Observers suggest that Traber’s arrest likely had Putin’s approval given their historical connections, and if not, it could signal instability within Russia’s political hierarchy, as Traber holds significant legitimate assets crucial to the state’s economic interests.