Russia’s former Minister of Transport, Roman Starovoyt, has been found dead in an apparent suicide, just hours after President Vladimir Putin relieved him of his duties.
The 53-year-old, who previously served as governor of the border Kursk region before being appointed transport minister in 2023, was discovered in his private vehicle with a gunshot wound in Odintsovo, a suburb of Moscow. The Russian Investigative Committee confirmed the development on Monday, stating that suicide remains the primary line of inquiry.
His death follows a period of heightened internal scrutiny, as Moscow continues its crackdown on both military and civilian officials amid ongoing operations in Ukraine. Starovoyt’s dismissal was announced earlier the same day via a presidential decree that gave no explanation beyond the standard phrasing: “Roman Starovoyt was relieved of the post of Minister of Transport.”
While the Kremlin has yet to officially comment on the incident, state media have speculated that Starovoyt’s removal may be tied to an unfolding corruption probe in the Kursk region. In April, his successor as governor, Alexei Smirnov, was arrested over allegations of embezzling more than $12 million allocated for border fortifications. Reports suggest Smirnov may have implicated Starovoyt during investigations.
Although Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov had earlier insisted the dismissal was “not linked to a loss of trust,” the timing and circumstances surrounding the former minister’s death have raised significant questions.
Shortly after the termination was made public, Putin appointed Deputy Minister Andrei Nikitin as Acting Transport Minister, pending confirmation by the State Duma expected on Tuesday.
Starovoyt, a native of the Kursk region, had been a prominent figure during the ongoing conflict with Ukraine, often seen at high-level meetings with the President. His abrupt dismissal and subsequent death have added a new layer of complexity to the Kremlin’s internal manoeuvres at a time of intensified military and political pressure.
