Russian Minister Roman Starovoyt Found Dead Amid Controversy and Investigation

Roman Starovoyt's death comes just hours after being relieved of his duties, amid ongoing scrutiny regarding embezzlement cases tied to the Kursk region.

Roman V. Starovoyt, the Russian transport minister, was discovered dead from a gunshot wound, according to a statement from Russian authorities on Monday. This tragic event occurred just hours after the Kremlin announced his dismissal from the ministerial position. The circumstances surrounding his death are currently under investigation, with law enforcement treating it as a potential suicide.

Starovoyt, who was 53, had a lengthy political career, previously serving as the governor of the Kursk region for almost six years before taking on the transport ministry role in May 2024. Just three months following his promotion, Ukrainian forces invaded the Kursk region, taking control of significant areas—a move that represented the first invasion of Russian territory since World War II and a considerable embarrassment for President Vladimir Putin. The occupation sparked substantial criticism within Russia, and recent months have seen a growing wave of domestic backlash.

In connection with the fallout from the invasion, Russian government authorities have arrested several former officials from Kursk. They are accused of embezzling over $12 million that had been allocated by Moscow to strengthen border defenses against Ukraine during Starovoyt's tenure as governor. Notably, Starovoyt's successor and longtime deputy, Aleksei B. Smirnov, was arrested in April on similar embezzlement charges while he held the acting governorship during the invasion.

The Russian state news agency Tass has reported that further indictments could follow as one of the defendants has begun cooperating with investigators, suggesting that more revelations may emerge in the ongoing case against former officials in the Kursk region. The investigation delves deep into a scandal marked by high stakes and public outcry within the country as it navigates the ongoing conflict with Ukraine.