Key facts
- Russian businessman Ilya Traber has been detained in St. Petersburg.
- Traber has significant infrastructure interests, including a Baltic port complex.
- He is also facing money laundering charges in Spain.
- Prosecutors allege Traber has ties to the Tambov criminal network and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
- The state recently took control of 55% of the shares of Petersburg Oil Terminal (PNT).
Prominent Russian businessman Ilya Traber has reportedly been detained in St. Petersburg, according to local news outlet Fontanka. Reuters could not immediately confirm the report. Traber has extensive interests in infrastructure, including a major new Baltic port complex, and one of his associates was also reportedly detained.
Traber, known in criminal circles as "Antiquarian," allegedly maintains influence in St. Petersburg due to his relationship with Vladimir Putin. In early April, the state took control of 55% of the shares of JSC "Petersburg Oil Terminal" (PNT), valued at 23.3 billion rubles at the end of last year. PNT's revenue in 2024 was 8.6 billion rubles with a profit of 0.8 billion rubles.
In the past, Traber was involved with Dmitriy Skigin in PNT, with shareholders also including members of the Tambov organized crime group. Traber sold his shares in the late 1990s and left Russia. An assassination attempt on a former partner, Sergey Vasiliev, in 2006 led to the arrest of Vladimir Barsukov-Kumarin. Investigators suggested the attempt may have been linked to Traber acting in the interests of Putin and Gennadiy Timchenko to remove competitors from the oil market.
More recently, a corporate conflict erupted over PNT shares involving the heirs of Dmitriy Skigin and Elena Vasilieva, Sergey Vasiliev's wife. The state ultimately acquired 50% of the Skigins' shares and 5% of Vasilieva's stake. Traber is believed to have influenced Vasilieva's decision to cede control to the state.
Separately, Traber is facing money laundering charges in Spain, with prosecutors seeking a five-year prison sentence and a €7 million fine. He is accused of being the financial architect for the Tambov criminal network and maintaining ties to Putin. His Spanish assets, including a villa and luxury vehicles, are central to the allegations. Traber denies the charges, calling them politically motivated.