Charges dropped against suspect in murder of Petrov's father

Russian investigators have dropped the case against businessman Ilya Traber in connection with the murder of Alexander Petrov, the father of former Formula 1 driver Vitaly Petrov.

The St Petersburg newspaper Fontanka reports that the Investigative Committee ended the prosecution on the basis of Traber's complete non-involvement. The decision gives him the right to seek rehabilitation and compensation.

Traber was detained on June 17 and accused by investigators of involvement in the killing. He was released on August 27 on medical grounds, although the charge remained in place at that point. It has now been formally dropped.

Alexander Petrov, a businessman and local politician, was killed by a single gunshot near Vyborg on October 24 2020.

The decision concerns Traber alone. The wider investigation and proceedings involving other accused persons continue.

Vitaly Petrov became Russia's first Formula 1 driver when he joined Renault in 2010. He later raced for Lotus, Renault and Caterham, making 57 Grand Prix starts and finishing third in the 2011 Australian Grand Prix.