Former Russian Transport Minister Found Dead After Dismissal
Russia’s former transport minister has died from a gunshot wound shortly after being removed from his position by President Vladimir Putin.
The body of Roman Starovoit was discovered in his vehicle in a Moscow suburb. Investigators stated that he appeared to have taken his own life.
An official decree, signed by Putin and released on Monday morning, confirmed Starovoit’s removal from office just before reports of his death emerged. The document, dated 7 July, provided no explanation for his dismissal.
However, some Russian news sources, including the local edition of *Forbes*, suggested that Starovoit may have died as early as Friday evening—before his firing was announced. Authorities have not verified the exact sequence of events. Andrei Kartapolov, a member of the State Duma, told journalists that Starovoit had passed away “quite long ago.”
Starovoit had been a key figure in Putin’s government, previously serving as governor of the Kursk region from 2018 to 2024. During his tenure, he supervised the construction of military defenses following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
His successor was later arrested in a corruption case involving the alleged misuse of over 1 billion roubles (nearly £10 million) intended for regional security against potential Ukrainian advances.
Reports from *Kommersant*, a prominent Russian business publication, indicated that other Kursk officials implicated in the corruption inquiry had implicated Starovoit, suggesting he might also have been under investigation. High-ranking officials in Russia often face legal action after losing political protection.
Last August, Ukrainian forces briefly occupied parts of the Kursk region, a setback for the Kremlin, which has tried to shield Russian civilians from direct involvement in the conflict.
According to *Kommersant*, a Makarov pistol was found near Starovoit. He had received the weapon in 2003 for his efforts in maintaining public safety as Kursk’s governor.
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