Former Russian Transport Minister Roman Starovoit was found dead on Monday from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, just hours after President Vladimir Putin dismissed him from his position. Russia’s Investigative Committee confirmed his death and said it is investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Starovoit, a previous governor of the Kursk region who was appointed transport minister in May 2024, had recently come under fire over his previous role. The Kursk region was partially occupied by Ukrainian forces during a surprise push into Russian territory in August 2024. Though Russia recaptured most of the area, Kyiv is still reportedly occupying a small section.
His replacement, Aleksey Smirnov, was arrested in April and charged with embezzling state funds intended for border fortifications. Reports from the Russian outlet Kommersant suggest Starovoit was about to be named as a defendant in the same case.
The Kremlin did not specify a reason for Starovoit’s dismissal. When questioned about it, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said that no loss of trust was officially stated. The timeline of Starovoit’s death remains unclear, with one lawmaker suggesting it may have occurred earlier than reported.
His sudden death adds to growing political unease within Putin’s administration.
