Ex-Russian Transport Minister Roman Starovoit Found Dead After Dismissal by President Putin

Roman Starovoit, a former Russian transport minister and ex-governor of the troubled Kursk region, was discovered deceased in his vehicle on Monday with a gunshot wound. This incident occurred mere hours following his dismissal by President Vladimir Putin. Investigations by Russian authorities preliminarily suggest suicide as the cause of death.

The decree from the Kremlin announcing Starovoit's dismissal did not provide an official reason, and Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov noted that the decree did not include the phrase "loss of trust," which is commonly used to suggest a political falling out in Russia. Starovoit had been appointed to the federal transport ministry in May 2024, soon after Putin's latest presidential term began.

Starovoit had earlier held the position of governor for the Kursk region, a border area that experienced intense conflict following a surprise incursion by Ukraine in August of the previous year. Political analysts have speculated that his removal could be connected to an ongoing investigation into corruption related to Kursk’s wartime fortification funds. Reports suggest that as scrutiny intensified over alleged misuse of public funds in the region, several officials, including Starovoit's successor, Alexei Smirnov, were arrested on charges of embezzling more than 1 billion rubles, approximately $12.7 million.

Starovoit’s unexpected death has sent shockwaves through Russian political circles. Deputy Transport Minister Andrei Nikitin has been named as the acting minister following Starovoit's removal. Sources reported by the Moscow Times claim the decision to dismiss Starovoit had been determined months prior, though the complete ramifications — including possible legal consequences — remain uncertain.