MOSCOW: Roman Starovoit, Russia’s recently dismissed minister of transport, was found dead near his car outside Moscow with a gunshot wound, according to Russian authorities on Monday. The Investigative Committee, which handles major criminal cases, has suggested suicide as the leading theory but says a full investigation into the circumstances is underway.
Starovoit, 53, was removed from office just hours before his death via a presidential decree issued by President Vladimir Putin. No official reason was provided for the sudden dismissal, but speculation quickly arose about a possible link to an ongoing corruption probe tied to Starovoit’s previous role as governor of the Kursk region.
A pistol believed to belong to Starovoit was recovered near the scene, and Russian media, citing law enforcement sources, reported that his body was discovered with a gunshot wound to the head in bushes close to his Tesla, which was parked near a public park not far from his residence in the Moscow region. He was divorced and leaves behind two daughters.
Starovoit was appointed as transport minister in May 2024, following nearly five years as governor of the Kursk region. His tenure as governor has come under scrutiny due to a corruption investigation involving 19.4 billion roubles (approximately $246 million USD) allocated in 2022 for reinforcing the Russian-Ukrainian border. Allegations suggest that a portion of those funds may have been embezzled.
In April, Starovoit’s successor and former deputy in Kursk, Alexei Smirnov, was arrested and charged with embezzlement related to the same border defence funds. Russian media reported that Smirnov had implicated Starovoit in the scandal during his interrogation, though Reuters has not independently verified these claims. Smirnov’s lawyer declined to comment but noted his client has pleaded not guilty.
The corruption accusations are particularly sensitive given the vulnerability of the Kursk region, which saw the largest foreign military incursion into Russian territory since World War II when Ukrainian forces crossed the border last year. The region suffered extensive damage and was only retaken by Russian troops after prolonged and intense fighting.
Starovoit’s death and the shadow of corruption come at a challenging time for Russia’s transport sector. Ongoing sanctions and the war in Ukraine have disrupted aviation supply chains, strained rail operations, and forced frequent airport shutdowns due to Ukrainian drone strikes.
The Kremlin swiftly appointed Andrei Nikitin, former governor of the Novgorod region, as acting transport minister. Photographs released by the Kremlin showed Nikitin meeting President Putin, who reportedly expressed confidence in his qualifications and experience.
In his initial remarks, Nikitin emphasized the need to modernize and digitize Russia’s transport infrastructure to streamline logistics and improve cross-border trade amid ongoing disruptions. The Ministry of Transport has not yet commented on Starovoit’s death.
