Former Russian transport minister Roman Starovoit has been discovered dead, with investigations suggesting a self-inflicted gunshot wound. His death comes just hours after President Vladimir Putin dismissed him from his position without explanation. Deputy transport minister Andrei Nikitin has been appointed as his successor.
The circumstances surrounding Starovoit's dismissal and subsequent death have prompted extensive scrutiny. The Russian Investigative Committee is working to clarify the details of the incident. Notably, Starovoit had held his position as transport minister since May 2024, and prior to that, he served as governor of the Kursk region for nearly nine years. The Kursk area, which experienced a military offensive from Ukrainian forces in August 2024, has been a focal point of tension between Moscow and Kyiv.
Starovoit's replacement, Aleksey Smirnov, faced his own legal issues when he was arrested in April on charges related to embezzling funds intended for fortifications on the border with Ukraine. Reports indicate that Starovoit was potentially facing similar legal challenges, as he was about to be included as a defendant in Smirnov's case. This raises further questions about the political environment within which Starovoit operated.
Adding to the intrigue, Russian State Duma Defense Committee head Andrei Kartapolov suggested to RTVI that the death might have occurred some time prior to its announcement. Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov addressed reporters' inquiries regarding Starovoit's dismissal, stating that he had no knowledge of a loss of trust in Starovoit, despite speculation surrounding the reasons for his dismissal.
