Moscow, Russia – A former Russian transport minister, Roman Starovoit, has been found dead with a gunshot wound in his car just hours after President Vladimir Putin dismissed him from his cabinet position.
Authorities say the 53-year-old politician was discovered deceased in a vehicle parked in Odintsovo, an affluent suburb west of Moscow often associated with Russia’s political elite.
Starovoit had served as the country’s transport minister for just over a year, having been appointed in May 2024 following a five-year term as governor of the strategically sensitive Kursk region, which shares a border with Ukraine.
While no formal link has been made between his sacking and his death, the timing has raised questions.
The Investigative Committee has opened a probe into the circumstances surrounding the incident, stating: “The main version is suicide,” though no conclusions have been released.
Notably, months after his departure, Ukrainian forces launched a bold incursion into Russian territory through Kursk — the largest such operation since the Second World War. Although Ukrainian troops were later repelled, the breach prompted a renewed focus on the region’s leadership and defence oversight.
Adding to the instability, Starovoit’s successor in Kursk, Alexei Smirnov, was charged in April with embezzling government funds intended for defence.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov commented on the appointment, stating that Nikitin’s experience and qualifications align with the president’s expectations for the crucial ministry.
As investigations continue, the sudden death of a high-ranking former official has fuelled further debate about internal pressures within Russia’s ruling elite during a time of conflict and political reshuffling.
Editing by M10News Crime Desk | Contact: info@m10news.com
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