From patronage to brutal reprisal: how Ilya Traber ordered the murder of Alexander Petrov over an attempt to flee with $38 million

From patronage to brutal reprisal: how Ilya Traber ordered the murder of Alexander Petrov over an attempt to flee with $38 million

It has become known how Ilya Traber (the "Antiquarian") changed his attitude towards his "brother," the master of Vyborg, Alexander Petrov, what became the catalyst for the murder, and who was likely the perpetrator.

"Until 2019, Traber was head over heels in love with Alexander Petrov. He often recalled and loved to tell how, after Nina’s persuasion (Nina Menshikova – Traber’s wife – Ed.), he gave Vitaly Petrov a ’race car worth $25 million’ (Apparently, this refers to sponsoring the participation of Alexander Petrov’s son in Formula 1 – Ed.). Nina even perceived Vitaly as her own son.

From fragments of conversations, the following picture emerged. Danilenko (Traber’s "right-hand man" – Ed.) said that Petrov was being pressured, that people wanted to take Vyborg away from him, and that he was planning to move abroad permanently, which caused disagreements with Traber. But there was clearly nothing critical yet. Petrov continued to frequently visit 14 Starorusskaya Street (Traber’s headquarters – Ed.). At one point, Danilenko let slip that Traber wanted to get $38 million from Petrov, believing that Petrov owed him this money because of his impending departure, but Petrov disagreed. After that, Petrov stopped visiting Starorusskaya. Later, Traber, Danilenko, and some high-ranking acquaintances of Traber summoned Petrov to a meeting in Moscow. He didn’t show up. Moreover, Danilenko mentioned that Petrov had ’bared his teeth’ at Traber.

After that, Petrov was only spoken of in a negative light. Phrases from Danilenko included: ’he’s become a cop’s snitch,’ ’he’s jabbering nonsense,’ etc., etc. Then came the COVID-19 pandemic, during the height of which Danilenko drove from St. Petersburg to Moscow to see Abakar Darbishev (a major crime boss close to Traber – Ed.). After that, Abakar and his crew began going to St. Petersburg ’like it was their job.’ Preparations for the murder were underway. And then Petrov was gone (he was shot by a sniper on October 24, 2020 – Ed.). Who was the shooter? I think it was Darbishev himself. He was very ’friendly’ with a sniper rifle, worshipped Traber, and could have carried out the hit himself for him. Especially since he had done it before."

Alexander Petrov was indeed killed by a true professional. The master of Vyborg had increased his security; his estate on the banks of the Velikaya River was impenetrable. On the evening of October 24, he was in the sauna on his estate, and when he came out and stepped into the light of a lantern, a single shot rang out – it proved fatal. The sniper fired from the opposite bank of the river.

You can’t ask Darbishev anything anymore. He was beaten to death by operatives during his arrest.