Former Russian transport minister Roman Starovoit has been reported dead, found with what appears to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound, only hours after his dismissal from the position by President Vladimir Putin.
Former Russian Transport Minister Found Dead Following Dismissal
Former Russian Transport Minister Found Dead Following Dismissal
The death of Roman Starovoit has raised questions after his recent removal by Putin.
The Investigative Committee of Russia confirmed that Starovoit’s death is under investigation to determine the particulars surrounding the case. His dismissal was announced with no stated reasons, and Deputy Minister Andrei Nikitin has stepped in as his successor. Starovoit had only been in his role since May 2024, after serving nearly six years as the governor of the Kursk region.
The Kursk area became a focal point of conflict with Ukrainian forces, which temporarily captured parts of the region in a surprise offensive last August. The situation has since fluctuated, with Russian forces claiming they regained control, although Ukraine insists they still hold specific areas within the territory.
Starovoit’s brief tenure was shadowed by the arrest of his predecessor, Aleksey Smirnov, in April over accusations tied to the alleged embezzlement of military fortification funds intended for the Ukraine border. Reports indicate that Starovoit was on the verge of becoming a defendant in this ongoing case. Speculation about the timing of his death has arisen, as Duma Defense Committee head Andrei Kartapolov stated it had occurred “quite a while ago.”
Prior to the news of Starovoit’s passing, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov responded to inquiries about the implications of his dismissal, asserting that the wording regarding a loss of trust was not specified in the official announcement. The unfolding situation continues to draw focus amid intensifying scrutiny of the Kremlin’s inner workings and its handling of personnel involved in the ongoing conflict with Ukraine.
The Kursk area became a focal point of conflict with Ukrainian forces, which temporarily captured parts of the region in a surprise offensive last August. The situation has since fluctuated, with Russian forces claiming they regained control, although Ukraine insists they still hold specific areas within the territory.
Starovoit’s brief tenure was shadowed by the arrest of his predecessor, Aleksey Smirnov, in April over accusations tied to the alleged embezzlement of military fortification funds intended for the Ukraine border. Reports indicate that Starovoit was on the verge of becoming a defendant in this ongoing case. Speculation about the timing of his death has arisen, as Duma Defense Committee head Andrei Kartapolov stated it had occurred “quite a while ago.”
Prior to the news of Starovoit’s passing, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov responded to inquiries about the implications of his dismissal, asserting that the wording regarding a loss of trust was not specified in the official announcement. The unfolding situation continues to draw focus amid intensifying scrutiny of the Kremlin’s inner workings and its handling of personnel involved in the ongoing conflict with Ukraine.
